THE CALIFORNIA GRAY WHALE. 31 
attitude in which they are frequently seen in the southern lagoons ; at such times 
the combined sound of their respirations can be heard, in a calm day, for miles 
across the ice and water. But in those far northern regions, the animals are rarely 
pursued by the whale- ship's boats: hence they rest in some degree of security; 
yet even there, the watchful Esquimaux steal upon them, and to their primitive 
weapons and rude processes the whale at last succumbs, and supplies food and 
substance for its captors. 
The Esquimaux whaling -boat, although to all appearance simple in its con- 
struction, will be found, after careful investigation, to be admirably adapted to the 
purpose, as well as for all other uses necessity demands. It is not only used to 
accomplish the more important undertaking, but in it they hunt the walrus, 
shoot game, and make their long summer -voyages about the coast, up the deep 
bays and long rivers, where they traffic with the interior tribes. When prepared 
for whaling, the boat is cleared of all passengers and useless incumbrances, nothing 
being allowed but the whaling- gear. Eight picked men make the crew.* Their 
boats are twenty -five to thirty feet long, and are flat on the bottom, with flaring 
sides and tapering ends. The framework is of wood, lashed together with the fibres 
of baleen and thongs of walrus -hide, the latter article being the covering, or plank- 
ing, to the boat. The implements are one or more harpoons, made of ivory, with 
a point of slate -stone or iron; a boat -mast, that serves the triple purpose of 
spreading the sail and furnishing the staff" for the harpoon and lance ; a large knife, 
and eight paddles. The knife lashed to the mast constitutes the lance. 
The boat being in readiness, the chase begins. As soon as the whale is seen 
and its course ascertained, all get behind it : not a word is spoken, nor will they 
take notice of a passing ship or boat, when once excited in the chase. All is 
silent and motionless until the spout is seen, when they instantly paddle toward it. 
The spouting over, every paddle is raised ; again the spout is seen or heard through 
the fog, and again they spring to their paddles. In this manner the animal is 
approached near enough to throw the harpoon, when all shout at the top of their 
voices. This is said to have the effect of checking the animal's way through the 
water, thus giving an opportunity to plant the spear in its body, with line and 
buoys attached. The chase continues in this wise until a number of weapons are 
firmly fixed, causing the animal much effort to get under water, and still more to 
remain down ; so it soon rises again, and is attacked with renewed vigor. It is the 
*It is said by Captain Norton, -who com- several years ago, that the women engage in the 
manded the ship Citizen, wrecked in the Arctic chase. 
