WHALE FISHERY. 429 



pooner, always to place his boat as near as possible to the 

 spot, in which he expects the fish to rise, and he conceives 

 himself successful in the attempt when the fish ' comes 

 up within a start, 1 that is, within the distance of about 

 two hundred yards. 



In all cases when a whale that is pursued, has but 

 once been seen, the fisher is considerably indebted to 

 what is called chance for a favorable position. But when 

 the whale has been twice seen, and its change of place, 

 if any, noticed, the harpooner makes the best use of the 

 intimation derived from his observation on its apparent 

 motion, and places his boat accordingly. Thus he an- 

 ticipates the fish in its progress, so that when it rises to 

 the surface* there is probability of its being within the 

 favorable precincts of a start. A whale moving forward 

 at a small distance beneath the surface of the sea, leaves 

 a sure indication of its situation, in what is c;dled an 

 ' eddy,' having somewhat the resemblance of the ' wake' 

 or track of a ship ; and in fine calm weather, its change 

 of position is sometimes pointed out by the birds, many 

 of which closely follow it when at the surface, and hover 

 over it when below, whose keener vision can discover it, 

 when it is totally concealed from human eyes. By these 

 indications many whales have been taken. 



THE ATTACK AND PURSUIT. 



Whenever a whale lies on the surface of the water, un- 

 conscious of the approach of its enemies, the hardy fisher 

 rows directly upon it, and an instant before the boat touch- 

 es it, buries his harpoon in its back. But if, while the boat 

 is yet at a little distance, the whale should indicate his in- 

 tention of diving, by lifting his head above the common 

 level, and then plunging it under water, and raising its bo:ly 

 until it appear like the large segment of a sphere, the 

 harpoon is thrown from the hand, or fired from a gun, the 

 former of which, when skilfully practised, is efficient nt the 

 distance of eight or ten yards, and the latter at the distance 

 of thirty yards or upwards. The wounded whale, in the 

 surprise and agony of the moment, makes a convulsive 

 effort to escape. Then is the moment of danger. The 

 boat is subjected to the most violent blows from its head 



VOL. i. NO. xviii. 38* 



