568 WHALE FISHERY. 



' One boat only with lines, and two empty boats were 

 reserved by the ship. Having, however, fortunately fine 

 weather, and a fresh breeze of wind, we immediately 

 gave chase under all sail ; though, it must be confessed, 

 with the insignificant force by us, the distance of the fish, 

 and the rapidity of its flight considered, we had but very 

 small hopes of success. At length, after pursuing it five 

 or six miles, being at least nine miles from the place 

 where it was struck, we carne up with it, and it seemed 

 inclined to rest after its extraordinary exertions. The 

 two dismantled, or empty boats having been furnished 

 with two lines each, (a very inadequate supply,) they, to- 

 gether with the one in a good state of equipment, now 

 made an attack upon the whale. One of the harpoonera 

 made a blunder, the fish saw the boat, took the alarm, 

 and again fled. I now supposed it would be seen no 

 more ; nevertheless, we chased nearly a mile in the di- 

 rection I imagined it had taken, and placed the boats, to 

 the best of my judgment, in the most advantageous situa- 

 tions. In this case we were extremely fortunate. The 

 fish rose near one of the boats, and was immediately har- 

 pooned. In a few minutes, two more harpoons entered 

 its back, and lances were plied against it with vigor and 

 success. Exhausted by its amazing exertions to escape, 

 it yielded itself at length to its fate, received the piercing 

 wounds of the lances without resistance, and finally died 

 without a struggle. Thus terminated with success, an 

 attack upon a whale, which exhibited the most uncom- 

 mon determination to escape from its pursuers, seconded 

 by the most amazing strength of any individual, whose 

 capture I ever witnessed. After all, it may seem sur- 

 prising that it was not a particularly large individual ; 

 the longest lamina of whalebone only measuring nine 

 feet six inches, while those affording twelve feet bone 

 are not uncommon. The quantity of line withdrawn 

 from the different boats engaged in the capture, was sin- 

 gularly great. It amounted, altogether, to 10,440 yards, 

 or nearly six English miles; of these, thirteen new lines 

 lost, together with the sunken boat ; the harpoon con- 

 necting them to the fish, having dropped out before the 

 whale was killed. 



'After having taken a large circuit with the ship Esk, 



