526 MODERN SEA FISHING 



noise. Just clear of where the hands clutch the oar either a 

 grummet is tacked on or a Turk's head is worked, which, 

 when the oar is shoved out, will prevent its escape from 

 the side of the boat. The object of working oars in this way 

 is twofold : viz. (i) they are very easy to ship ; (2) when shoved 

 out they will follow of their own accord the motions of the 

 boat, and not impede her progress. Scoresby says that Green- 

 land whales are sharp sighted, but dull of hearing ; hence they 

 are best approached diagonally from behind, keeping well clear 

 of the tail, and struck, if possible, well forward towards the fins. 

 Frequently the boat is urged to her utmost speed, and at 

 the proper moment the boat-steerer will tell the harpooneer to 

 rise. The harpooneer will let go his oar, which swings along- 

 side, fire his gun, either throw or thrust the hand if there is 

 time, and the boat-steerer will sweep the boat clear of the fish. 

 This is a critical moment, as a fish on the receipt of the 

 harpoon will often in her agony lash out with her head, fins, 

 and tail, striking the boat in many instances. A rather smart 

 thing was done by a harpooneer from Peterhead in a ship 

 sailing from that port. He was in the crow's nest when, a fish 

 being sighted, several boats were sent in pursuit. One of the 

 harpooneers got a shot, but missed ; and the fish, being ex- 

 tremely scared, made straight for the ship, away from all the 

 boats in pursuit. The Peterhead man, grasping the situation, 

 dashed through the bottom of the crow's nest, seized the main 

 backstay, and slid down on deck with such velocity that his 

 clothes nearly caught fire. Getting together a scratch crew, 

 he jumped into a boat alongside and made for the fish, which, 

 at the moment he reached her, was preparing for a ' header ' 

 (a term used by whalers when a fish is about to sound), and was 

 already partly submerged. Letting the boat run almost on to 

 the back of the fish, he depressed the muzzle of the gun and 

 fastened her. The boat was smartly backed, and got clear out of 



