404 Fishes. 



As soon as the Whale is struck, the third man in the 

 boat holds up his oar, with something on the top, as a 

 signal to the ship ; at the sight of which the man who is 

 appointed to watch gives the alarm to those that are 

 asleep, who instantly let fall their other four boats, which 

 hang on the tackles, two at each side, ready to let go at 

 a minute's warning, all furnished with six men each, 

 harpoons, lances, lines, &c. Two or three of these boats 

 row to the place where the Whale may be expected to 

 come up again; the others to assist the boat that first 

 struck it with line ; as the \Vhale will sometimes run 

 out three more boats' lines, all fastened to each other, for 

 when the lines of the first boat are almost run out, they 

 throw the end to the second to be fastened to theirs, and 

 the second boat does the same to the third, and so on. 

 In this manner line is supplied to such an extent that 

 a large Whale has been known to carry off three miles 

 of it. 



A Whale, when he is first struck, will run out above a 

 hundred fathoms of line, before the harpooner is able to 

 take a turn round the boat's stern ; and with such swift- 

 ness that a man stands ready to throw water on the line 

 to quench it, in case it should take fire, which it frequently 

 does. There was, many years ago, a boat to be seen in 

 the South Sea Dock at Deptford, the head of which was 

 sawed off by the swiftness of the line running out. The 

 harpoon would be of but little avail in the destruction of 

 this animal ; but part of the rowers, either at the first 

 onset, or when, in order to fetch his breath, he rises to 

 the surface and discovers himself to view, throwing aside 

 their oars, and taking np their very sharp lances, thrust 

 them into his body, till they see him spurt the blood 

 through the blow-holes, the sight of which is a sign of 

 the creature's being mortally wounded. The fishermen, 

 upon the killing of a Whale, are each entitled to some 

 small reward. After the Whale is killed, they cut all 

 the lines that were fastened to it, and then cut off the 

 tail ; upon this it instantly turns on its back ; and in this 

 manner they tow it to the ship, where they fasten ropes 

 to keep it from sinking ; and, when it is cold, begin to 

 cut off the blubber. 



