THE AMERICAN WHALE-FISHERY. 193 
and so they do stop it from going any further. Another, that is called the steer- 
man, stands behind in the long-boat, and steers the boat with an oar, and he 
takes great care, and minds the rope, to see which way it runs out, for if it doth 
go towards either side, and doth not run just before over the stave, he so guides 
the boat, that it may run exactly out before. The whale runs away with the 
long-boat as swift as the wind. If the harpoonier can, he doth dart the harpoon 
just behind the spout- hole of the whale, or in the thick fat of his back, where 
they also do launce him, for that maketh him spout blood sooner than if wounded 
in any other place, and die sooner than if you should launce them into their belly, 
or through the guts. The first whale we caught spouted blood in such a quantity, 
that the sea was tinged by it wherever he swam, whereunto the Mallemucks flock'd 
in great numbers, as I have mentioned before. They also launce the whales near 
their privy -parts, if they can come at it; for if they are run in there, it doth 
pain them very much ; nay, even when they are almost dead, if you run in your 
launce thereabout, it causes the whole body to tremble. For the most part they 
do not much mind where they launce or push them ; for there is no time to take 
deliberation, but they strike at him as well as they can. But about the head the 
harpoon can do him no hurt, because the fat is but very thin there on the bones, 
which the whales know as well as we ; for when they find themselves in danger, 
so that they can not escape the harpoon, they rather leave their head than their 
back undefended, for there the harpoon breaks out easier, and so the whale gets 
away, like one that hath no mind to fight any longer. The use of the harpoon 
is, to tye, as it were, the whales with them, that they may not run away. It 
is shaped like an arrow before : it hath two sharp beards, they are sharp at the 
edge, and have a broad back, like unto a hatchet that is sharp before and blunt 
behind, or on the back, so that it may not cut with its back, for else it would 
tear out, and all your labour would be lost. The iron handle is thicker behind 
than before, and it is hollow, whereinto they put the stick. Before this hollow 
part, the fore -goer is fasten'd or ty'd, that is to say the foremost rope. Those are 
the best harpoons that are made of clean and fine steel, and are not hardened too 
much, so that you raaj' bend it without snapping, for oftentimes two hundred 
pounds are lost (for a midling whale is esteem'd at so much) in a minute's time 
for want of a good and well-temper'd harpoon. The wooden stick is fastened 
within the iron collet or funnel of the harpoon, with packthread wound all about 
the iron ; somewhat higher up, about two spans off, there is a hole made through 
the stock. The harpoon is light behind, and heavy towards the point, or before, 
like an arrow, that is made heavy before with iron, and light behind with feathers, 
Marine Mammals. — 25. 
