. ZOOLOGY. 



during the attack on a whale those officers usually 

 exchange stations. In case of accident, one boat is 

 capable of receiving the crew of a second, and thus en- 

 cumbered with a party of twelve, and her oars ct double- 

 banked/ 5 will continue to attack the harpooned whale. 

 A whale-boat, manned with a sturdy and experienced 

 crew, is a swift and handsome craft; buoyant and 

 graceful in her movements, she leaps from billow to 

 billow, and appears rather to dance over the sea than 

 to plough its bosom with her keel. It may be con- 

 sidered that such a boat is dangerous as a vehicle, and 

 perhaps when under sail, in squally weather, she really 

 is so ; but when skilfully managed, few boats are better 

 adapted to encounter a turbulent sea, or to pass with 

 security through a heavy surf. 



The whale-line, provided for British South-Seamen, 

 combines so completely the best qualities of cordage, 

 that it may be regarded as the height of perfection in 

 our rope manufacture. It is constructed of the best 

 hemp, slightly but uniformly imbued by the vapour of 

 tar ; is two inches in circumference ; and composed of 

 three strands ; each strand containing seventeen yarns, 

 each of which is calculated to sustain the weight of one 

 hundred and twelve pounds. Of this line, 220 fathoms 

 is the ordinary complement of each boat. It is coiled, 

 continuously, in two tubs, and in neat and compact 

 horizontal layers, or " sheaves," each extremity of the 

 line being kept exposed, the one for attachment to the 

 harpoons, the other (which is provided with a loop, or 

 "splice,") for connecting it to the line of a second 

 boat, should any probability arise that its entire length 

 would be taken out by the whale. 



When ready for running, the commencement of the 



