MOORING A WHALE. 121 



the worst part of our business was yet to be 

 dono. 



IP order to keep the whale in a proper position 

 for i ratting in, a chain is placed round that part 

 called his small the tapering extremity to whu n 

 the flukes or tail is joined. This small, in a whale, 

 is not small by any means, being about the circum- 

 ference of a flour barrel, and deserving the name 

 only by comparison with the balance of his body. 



When dead, a whale lies upon his side, with one 

 fin out of water. He floats just upon a level with 

 the water, the flukes and small being completely 

 below the surface. It is, therefore, not a slight 

 undertaking, particularly at night, and in a heavy 

 sea, to pass the necessary line. The operation is 

 performed by two boats, in the following manner : 

 A light line is provided, weighed down at the 

 middle by a six or ten pound shot. Each boat 

 takes one end of this line, and one being stationed 

 on either side of the whale, they pull slowly 

 toward his head, with the intention of passing the 

 bight, or middle of the rope, beneath the whale's 

 body. Four times we tried this experiment, but 

 each time the line was caught in the fork of the 

 flukes, which, lying now perpendicularly in the 

 water, reach to a considerable extent beneath the 

 surface. The fifth time we were successful, and 

 with a shout passed the ends of our line to the 

 ship where the rest of the manipulation is gone 

 through with ; it being the office of the boats now 

 to preserve and hold tightly the middle of the 



