434 WHALE FISHERY. 



At length, when exhausted by numerous wounds and the 

 loss of blood, which flows from the huge animal in copi- 

 ous streams, it indicates the approach of its dissolution, 

 by discharging from its 'blowholes,' a mixture of blood 

 along with the air and mucus which it usually expires, 

 and finally jets of blood alone. The sea, to a great ex- 

 tent around, is dyed with its blood, and the ice, boats, 

 and men, are sometimes drenched with the same. Its 

 track is likewise marked by a broad pellicle of oil, which 

 exudes from its wounds, and appears on the surface of 

 the sea. 



Its final capture is sometimes preceded by a convulsive 

 struggle, in which, its tail, reared, whirled, and violently 

 jerked in the air, resounds to the distance of miles. In 

 dying, it turns on its back or on its side, which joyful 

 circumstance is announced by the capturers with the 

 striking of their flags, accompanied by three lively 

 huzzas ! 



The remarkable exhaustion observed in the first ap- 

 pearance of a wounded whale at the surface, after a de- 

 scent of TOO or 800 fathoms perpendicular, does not de- 

 pend on the nature of the wound it has received, for a 

 hundred superficial wounds received from harpoons, 

 could not have the effects of a single lance penetrating 

 the vitals, but is the effect of the almost incredible pres- 

 sure to which the animal must have been exposed. The 

 surface of the body of a large whale, may be considered 

 as comprising an area of 1540 square feet. This, under 

 the common 'weight of the atmosphere only, must sus- 

 tain a pressure of 3,104,040 pounds, or 1380 tons. But 

 at the depth of 800 fathoms, where there is a column of 

 water equal in weight to about 154 atmospheres, the pres- 

 sure on the animal must be equal to 211, 200 tons. This 

 is a degree of pressure of which we can have but an im- 

 perfect conception. It may assist our comprehension, 

 however, to be informed, that it exceeds in weight sixty 

 of the largest ships of the British navy when manned, 

 provisioned, and fitted for a six months' cruise. 



Every boat fast to a living whale carries a flag, and 

 the ship to which such boats belong, also wears a flag, 

 until the whale is either killed or makes its escape. 



