104 PROCEEDINGS IN 



to the boats, which drag the carcase to the ship 

 amidst shouts of triumph. 



What is the time requisite for capturing a whale ? 

 In answer to this question, Mr. Scorseby states, that 

 he has seen a whale despatched in fifteen minutes, 

 and others alive, after severe treatment, at the end 

 of fifty hours. Much depends on the conduct of 

 the animal itself, much on the activity of the 

 whaler, and much, also, on the nature of the situ- 

 ation and weather. He states, that the average 

 time does not exceed an hour. 



As bearing on this point, and exhibiting the sur- 

 prising vigour of the mysticetus, we shall here in- 

 troduce an anecdote related by Mr Scorseby. In 

 1817 the Royal Bounty of Leith fell in with whales 

 at a distance from land and ice, there being at the 

 same time a brisk breeze and clear weather. The 

 boats were manned and sent in pursuit. After a chase 

 of five hours, one of the boats struck the whale about 

 four A. M. The captain followed in the ship, and 

 though for a time he lost sight of them, yet he again 

 descried a boat at eight A. M., with a signal displayed 

 of being fast. Some time after, he observed another 

 boat approach the fish, a second harpoon struck, 

 and a new signal displayed. As, however, the fish 

 drew the two boats away with considerable speed, 

 it was mid-day before any assistance could reach 

 them. Two more harpoons were then struck ; but 

 such was the vigour of the whale, that, though 

 it constantly dragged through the water from four to 

 six boats, together with a length of nearly a thousand 



