HISTORY OF THE WHALE. 95 



longer still ; and it has been asserted on good authority, 

 that a case has occurred of a wounded whale being dragged 

 up alive after having been an hour and a half continually 

 under water ; a singular fact, certainly, in the history of 

 warm-blooded animals. When it remains long under water, 

 it becomes asphyxiated or nearly drowned, and in all in- 

 stances is greatly exhausted for want of fresh air, and by 

 means of the enormous pressure, equal according to Mr. 

 Scorseby to upwards of 200,000 tons, which exceeds the 

 weight of sixty of the largest ships of the United States 

 Navy, when manned, provisioned, and fitted for a six 

 months cruise. 



When the fast fish is under water, the assisting boats 

 take up those positions near to which they calculate he 

 is most likely to rise, in order that one of them at least 

 may be within a start-, as it is called ; that is, within two 

 hundred yards of his place of re-appearing, at which dis- 

 tance they can easily reach him before he is prepared to 

 descend again. On its rising, they hasten towards the 

 spot, and as they reach it, each harpooner plunges his 

 weapon into its back, to the amount of three, four, or more, 

 according to the size of the whale, and the nature of the 

 situation. Most frequently, however, the animal descends 

 a few minutes after receiving the second harpoon, and 

 obliges the other boats to await its return to the surface, 

 before any further attack can be made. After this it is 

 actively plied with long and sharp lances, which are thurst 

 into its body, and aimed deep at its vitals. 



At length, when exhausted with numerous wounds and 

 loss of blood, which flows in copious streams, it indicates 

 the approach of dissolution by discharging blood from the 

 spiracles, along with the air and mucus, and finally, jets 

 of blood alone appear. The sea to a great extent is dyed 

 with blood, and the ice, boats, and men, are sometimes 

 drenched with it. Its track is likewise marked by a broad 



