170 SPOET IN NORTH AMERICA. 



each half an inch long, and so arranged that they 

 fitted into each other. The creature weighed four 

 hundred pounds. This was a favourable occasion for 

 examining at leisure one of the most curious speci- 

 mens of the monsters of the Atlantic, and as I saw 

 one for the first time, I did not fail to profit by it. 



The next time I was present at the catching of a 

 porpoise happened at Sandy Hook, near New York, 

 where I had gone with some sporting friends. We 

 had gone there to fish for clams, and to enjoy a bathe. 

 We were seated round a capital breakfast, when one 

 of the blacks who were waiting upon us, came to 

 announce a school of porpoises within gun-shot of 

 the shore ; and there they were, sure enough. In a 

 twinkling, we had decided upon our plan of action. 

 We were twenty-three in all, and there were ten 

 boats at our disposal. We divided ourselves into 

 two parties, one going to the right, and the other to 

 the left, so as not to alarm the porpoises, and enable 

 us to get behind them in a semi-circle. Two men 

 got into each boat, and one pulled, while the other 

 stood ready with a gaff. Presently the two lines 

 began to draw together, so as to prevent the por- 

 poises from getting out into the open sea. As we 

 advanced, the porpoises Avere driven closer to land, 

 and we kept beating the water with our gafPs, so as 

 to make as much noise as possible. In a short time 

 the bottom became visible, and the porpoises began 

 leaping about like goats, and trying their utmost to 



