THE AMERICAN WHALE-FISHERY. 267 
above us, the voices of the men in the pursuing flotilla could be distinctly heard 
for miles distant, At least twenty boats were quickly changing their positions, as 
the "fast" fish might take them; or perhaps some unlucky craft would suddenly 
stop, and the next moment, boat, oars, whaling implements, and men, would be 
seen flying through the air, or scattered upon the water around some Devil-fish, 
which, in whaling parlance, was "the devil among cedar." The boats of two differ- 
ent ships, which were fast to whales, passed quite near us ; and while the officers 
of each party had no relish for keeping close company, the two whales exhibited 
no disposition to separate ; and as the group swiftly approached, we heard loud 
voices and saw violent gesticulations. Very soon we distinctly heard a burly 
fellow, who stood at least six feet in his stockings, bare-headed, with his long 
locks streaming behind, shouting to his opponent: "That won't do! that won't do! 
cut your line ! I struck my whale first ! Cut that line, or you'll be into us ! Cut 
that line, or I'll put a bomb through you!" But the officer of the opposing boat 
very coolly replied: "Shoot, and be d d, you old lime-juicer! I won't let go 
this line till we git 'tother side of Jordan!" Then, turning to his crew, he said: 
"Haul line, boys! haul ahead! and I'll give old Rip -sack a dose he can't git to 
the 'pothecary's ! Haul ahead, and I'll tap his claret - bottle !" By this time the 
two whales had separated, and the boats were beyond hearing; but both whales 
were seen spouting blood, and soon after pyramids of foam showed that they were 
in their "flurry." 
The whale being dead, and floating, the grapnel is brought into requisition, 
and the animal's head is hooked and hauled up, when holes are cut through the 
lips, and a short warp is rove through, by which means its mouth is closed, and 
the tow-rope is made fast; then the prize is taken in tow to the vessel. 
Usually the whales are killed during the morning hours, or in the fore part of 
the day ; and before noon, trains of boats would be seen towing them, with sails 
spread to a leading breeze, or they wended their way slowly down the lagoon by 
the long, steady strokes of oars, and not unfrequently a boat song, with a lively 
chorus, cheered the men at their laborious work. Sometimes a casualty prevented 
some whaling -gang from making their capture after a hard chase, or "working 
upon" some cunning Devil-fish which baffled their skill to destroy; or, if the 
capture were made, it might be when the day was far advanced, or perhaps the 
shades of evening would compel them to "cut line," thereby giving up the chase, 
and returning to the ship with everyone jaded by a long and unsuccessful battle. 
Notwithstanding the danger in lagoon -whaling, we have known of the California 
Gray being killed during the darkest hours of night. An instance of this kind 
