274 The Story of the New England Whalers 



first voyage the Charles Phelps saved five sperm 

 whales and twenty-nine right whales. Ten others 

 were killed, only to have them sink. The lines 

 parted when six others were struck (an unusual 

 proportion, showing that she had cheap warp), 

 and from twelve that were struck the irons drew 

 out, showing that she did not carry toggle-irons. 

 Her record was that of the average of her day. 

 In shoal waters like those of the Okhotsk Sea, 

 sunken whales were sometimes buoyed and 

 watched until the gases of decomposition brought 

 them to the surface. A special harpoon was 

 invented for raising sunken whales from shoal 

 depths. This harpoon had enormous barbs and 

 it was of extraordinary weight, made so with 

 cast iron. It was fitted with rings that, when 

 slipped over the taut-drawn harpoon line which 

 had gone down with the dead whale, would serve 

 as guides or fair-leaders to keep the instrument 

 pointed at the whale as it dropped down through 

 the water. Such a harpoon, sliding down the 

 warp, would often sink into the carcass and hold 

 there until the stout line that was always fastened 

 to it could be wound around the ship's windlass, 



