104 PROCEEDINGS IN 



to the boats, -vvliich drag the carcase to the ship 

 amidst shouts of trimnph. 



What is the time requisite for capturing a whale ? 

 In answer to this question, Mr. Scorsehy states, that 

 lie has seen a whale despatched in fifteen minutes, 

 and others alive, after severe treatment, at the end 

 of fifty hours. Much depends on the conduct of 

 the animal itself, — much on the acti\'itj of the 

 whaler, — and much, also, on the nature of the situ- 

 ation and weather. He states, that the average 

 time does not exceed an hour. 



As bearing on tliis point, and exhibiting the sur- 

 prising vigour of the mysticetus, we shall here in- 

 troduce an anecdote related by Mr Scorseby. In 

 181 7 the Royal Bounty of Leith fell in with whales 

 at a distance from land and ice, there being at the 

 same time a brisk breeze and clear weather. The 

 boats were manned and sent in pursuit. After a chase 

 of five hours, one of the boats struck the whale about 

 four A. M. The captain followed in the ship, and 

 though for a time he lost sight of them, yet he again 

 descried a boat at eight a. m., -with a signal displayed 

 of being fast. Some time after, he observed another 

 boat approach the fish, a second harpoon struck, 

 and a new signal displayed. As, however, the fish 

 drew the two boats away with considerable speed, 

 it was mid-day before any assistance could reach 

 them. Two more harpoons were then struck ; but 

 such was the vigour of the whale, that, though 

 it constantly dragged through the water from four to 

 six boats, together with a length of nearly a thousand 



