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FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



CHAPTER III. 



WHALES Cetacea an order of aquatic mammals which comprises the largest ani- 

 mated forms in existence : some of the genera composing it are phytophagous, or 

 plant-eaters ; others are zoophagous, or animal-eaters. 



WHALE FISHING. 



"What though the wintry night falls dark, 

 And icy foes beset our bark, 

 And stiff our frozen rigging stands, 

 Enclasp'd with rigid iron bands, 

 While sheeted ice, like solid mail, 

 Thickens each spar and stiffen 'd sail ? 



Yet brave are whalemen's valiant hearts, 

 And stout are whalemen's hands ; 



And strong the arm the harpoon darts. 

 And strong the arm that wields the lance, 

 When o'er the tides our whale-boats glance 



To battle with the whale. 

 Leviathan may lash the tide, 

 But soon his floating, bleeding side, 

 And soon the spouting streams of gore, 

 That o'er the ensanguin'd waters pour, 



Declare that all is o'er. 

 Eight soon the precious oil is won, 

 Our dangerous labors all are done, 

 And homeward homeward is the cry, 

 With all sails spreading to the sky." ISAAC M'LELLAN. 



