ift WHALING AND FISHING. 



haL ikerchief, as it were, and the lively boal 

 danoed merrily over the waves, taking in not a 

 drop of water. Nothing can exceed the buoyancy 

 of oire of these little cockle shells. From theii 

 peculiar build and shape, they are especially 

 calculated to withstand a seaway ; and there are 

 instances on record which prove that a whale- 

 boat, rightly managed, (which however, requires 

 great Ekrll and unceasing vigilance) will live in a 

 gale of wind in which many large ships shall 

 make vory uncomfortable weather. 



"Thero he blows," sung out the boatsteerer, 

 pointing U a white spout on our left, and nearest 

 the second and third mates' boats, which were for 

 this time cruising in company, the fourth mate 

 being not fttr from us. 



"It's their chance," said the mate with some- 

 thing of disappointment in his voice, and we 

 prepared to look on at their maneuvers, trusting 

 to fonune tor an opportunity for ourselves- after- 

 ward. 



But by the time the other two boats had been 

 pulled around so as to approach the whales from 

 ahead a matter requiring in such a seaway, 

 some time they had already sounded again. 



For some half-dozen risings we were thus held 

 in suspense. Sometimes it was our chance, some- 

 times that of the others, but at no time did the 

 fish remain on the surface a sufficient length of 

 time to give us a fair opportunity for getting fast. 



The ship had been worked to windward all the 



