118 THE WHALEMAN J OR, 



They go sufficiently near the whale to throw a 

 harpoon into his body. Their harpoons are 

 somewhat different from ours, yet in principle 

 they are precisely the same. When they have 

 thrown one or two irons into the whale, they cast 

 overboard two air-tight and inflated seal skins 

 attached to the lines. Every canoe in pursuit of 

 whales has two skins of this sort. If the whale 

 is disposed to turn flukes and go down, he 

 must of course carry with him these full blown 

 skins. The lines are very strong, being made of 

 walrus skin. When the whale makes his appear- 

 ance again, he is struck by another canoe, and 

 two more seal skins are attached to his body. 

 Thus they go on fastening irons into his body, 

 and impeding his course by any number of seal 

 skins, until he is wearied out, and then they go 

 up to him and lance him. Whales have been 

 picked up, by ships and boats, having several seal 

 skins attached to them. One whale was found, 

 several years since, which had twenty-eight full- 

 blown seal skins trailing after him. 



PREPARING THEIR FOOD. 



Having captured the whale and drawn him 

 ashore, they then proceed to the work of cutting 

 him up, and stowing him away for future use. 

 Both the blubber and entrails are deposited in a 



