WHALE FISHERY. 441 



the number of boats or more, when fishing in open situ- 

 ations ; because, -in open situations the whale may arise 

 anywhere within a circle, instead of a semicircle, de- 

 scribed by the length of the lines withdrawn from the 

 fast-boat. In consequence of this, it frequently happens 

 that all the attendant boats are disposed in a wrong di- 

 rection, and the fish, recovers its breath, breaks loose, 

 and escapes before any of them can secure it by a second 

 harpoon. Hence, when a ship fishes at a field, with an 

 ordinary crew, and six or seven boats, two of the largest 

 fish may be struck at the same time with every prospect 

 of success, while the same force attempting the capture 

 of two at once, in an open situation will, not unfrequent- 

 ly, occasion the loss of both. There have indeed been 

 instances of a ship% crew, with seven boats, striking at a 

 field, six fish at the same time, and of success in killing 

 the whole. Generally speaking, six boats at a field are 

 capable of performing the same execution, as near twice 

 that number in open situations. Besides, fields some- 

 times afford an opportunity of fishing, when in any other 

 situation there can be little or no chance of success, or, 

 indeed, when to fish elsewhere is utterly impracticable. 

 Thus calms, storms, and fogs, are great annoyances in 

 the fishery in general, and frequently prevent it alto- 

 gether ; but at fields the fishery goes on under any of 

 these disadvantages, As there are several important ad- 

 vantages attending the fishery at fields, so, likewise, 

 there are some serious disadvantages, chiefly relating to 

 the safety, of the ships engaged in the occupation. The 

 motions of fields are rapid, various, and unaccountable, 

 and the power with which they approach each other and 

 squeeze every resisting object, immense, hence occa- 

 sionally vast mischief is produced, which it is not always 

 in the power of the most skilful and attentive master to 

 forsee and prevent. 



Thin fields, or fields full of holes, are usually avoided, 

 because a ' fast fish,' retreating under such a field, can 

 respire through the holes in the centre as conveniently as 

 on the exterior ; and a large fish usually proceeds from 

 one hole to another, and if determined to advance cannot 

 possibly be stopped. In this'case all that can be done is, 



VOL. r. NO. xvni. 39* 



