REMARKS ON WHALES. 357 



Whales of the larger and leffer Species. 



Whales are found in Scotland wherever the her- 

 rings abound. In Augult, 1784, two young ones 

 followed the herrings into Oban bay, where they 

 remained fome days, playing on the furface, and 

 fometimes within a hundred yards of the cuftom- 

 houfe, where there is a great depth of water. Some 

 months after, two larger whales were obferved in 

 Lochfine. 



Sometimes one or two whales will block up the 

 fhoal of herrings in a loch, to the great emolument of 

 the fifhers j but whether thcfe fervices from the 

 whales be an equivalent for the per contra injuries, 

 \ve fhall not pretend to decide. No regular whale 

 fifhery hath yet been attempted on the Scottifh 

 fhores ; but were towns eftablifhed on the weftern 

 parts, it is probable that a body of harponeers would 

 fettle there for carrying on the greater and letter 

 fifheries. Small whales of the grampus kind abound 

 in the Hebrides. When a fhoal appears, the natives, 

 armed with Hones, clubs, fpears, and guns, imme- 

 diately embark on board their fifhing boats, in- 

 clofe the fhoal between a line of boats and the Ihore ; 

 and begin the attack with Ihowers of flones. The 

 affrighted fifh directly make for the firft bay or open- 

 ing j the men purfue, and commence a bloody at- 

 tack with guns, fwords, clubs, &c. a defperate 

 fight enfues the fifh ftruggling to efcape, and the 

 men to fecure them. Great numbers are thus ta- 

 ken ; and, on account of the oil extracted from their 

 livers, become a valuable capture to the afiailants. 



Theporpus is remarkable for the great quantity 

 of fat or lard that furrounds the body, which yields 

 abundance of excellent oil. 



In the days of Henry VIII. and Queen .Elizabeth, 

 the flefh of the porpus, however greafy and naufc- 

 ous, was ferved up at the royal table. 



All fi(h of the whale kind fwim againft the wind, 

 except when they follow the herrings, and fcem much 

 agitated upon the approach of a ilorm, when they 

 tumble about with unufual violence. 



