2(5 MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
the boats cutting through the water at their utmost speed. At other times, when 
the cub is young and weak, the movements of the mother are sympathetically 
suited to the necessities of tier dependent, offspring. It is rare that, the dam will 
forsake her voting one, when molested. When within "darting distance" (sixteen 
or eighteen feet), the boat - steerer darts the harpoons, and if the whale is struck 
it- dashes about, Lashing the water into foam, oftentimes staving the boats. As 
soon as the boat is fast, the officer goes into the head,* and watches a favorable 
opportunity to shoot a homh - lance. Should this enter a. vital part and explode, it 
kills instantly, hut if is not often this good luck occurs; more frequently two or 
three bombs are shot, which paralyze tin- animal to some extent, when the boat is 
hauled near enough to use the hand-lance. After repeated thrusts, the whale 
becomes sluggish in its motions; then, going "close to," 1 he hand -lance is set into 
its "life," which completes the capture. The animal rolls over on its side, with tins 
extended, and dies without a. struggle. Sometimes it. will circle around within a 
small compass) or take a zigzag course, heaving its head and (hikes above the water, 
and will either roll over, "tin out," or die under water and sink to the bottom. 
Thus far we have spoken principally of the females, as they are found in the 
lagoons. Mention has been math", however, of that general habit, common to both 
male and female, of keeping near the shore in making the passage between their 
QOrthem and southern feeding-grounds. 'Phis fact becoming known, and the bomb- 
gun f coming into use, the modi' of capture- along the outer coast was changed. 
Tli.' whaling parties Erst stationed themselves in their boats at. the most favorable 
points, where the thickest beds of kelp were found, and there lay in wait watching 
for a good chanoe to shoot the whales as they passed. This was called "kelp 
whaling." 
The first year or two that this pursuit was practiced, many of the animals 
♦'Whalemen call the forward part, of a whale- is twenty-three inches in length; diameter of 
boat the head, differing from merchantmen, who boro, one and one-eighth of an inch; weight, 
term it the bow ; still, the oar next to the for- twenty-four pounds. It shoots a bomb-lance 
ward one in a whale-boat is named the bow- twenty -one and a half inches long, and of a 
oar. And, likewise, when the boat is hauled size to fit the bore. It is pointed at the end, 
close up to the whale b\ heaving the lino out with sharpened edges, in order to cut its way 
of the "bow-chocks." and taking it to one side through the fibrous fat and flesh, and is guided 
against a cleat which is placed a few feet by three elastic feathers, which are attached 
aft. of tho oxtremo bow, it is called "bowing- along the fuse tube, folding around it when in 
on." tho barrel. Tho gun is fired from the shoulder, 
fTho bomb-gun is made of iron, stock and in tho same way as a musket. For illustration, 
all. It is three feet long, the barrel of which see plate xxiii. 
