172 NATURAL HISTORY [Fishes. 



Some time ago one was observed for a whole day in the 

 harbour of Stromness, and in that time went slowly round it 

 several times, allowing the children to come close up to him 

 in boats, without seeming in the least disturbed ; every 

 now and then setting up his large back-fin, and some- 

 times having great part of his back above water. In this 

 manner he proceeded, without the least disturbance, till seve- 

 ral boats were manned, and went after him with harpoons 

 and lances. He allowed them to come close up with him, 

 and two of them struck him, when, indeed, he made the wa- 

 ter foam around him, tumbling about with vast violence for 

 a few minutes ; he then dropped to the bottom, and they ima- 

 gined he had been dead, and attempted to pull him ashore, 

 for which purpose they got the assistance of nine boats, with 

 their crews, who, with united force and much struggling, rais- 

 ed him up, and when he came up one of the people wound- 

 ed him with a lance. This effectually rousing him, set him 

 a running, and, in spite of the efforts of the whole people in 

 the boats, about forty in number, he dragged the whole after 

 him, till the harpoons came out of him, and he was given over 

 for lost. In a little time he appeared again, and notwith- 

 standing of what he had met with before, suffered himself 

 again to be wounded with three harpoons ; one of which near 

 his breast-fins. This set him again a tumbling and beating 

 the waves, driving the boats about him with his tail like as 

 many chips ; but at last, repeating the efforts, and piercing 

 him with many wounds, he was dragged ashore, and quite 

 killed. 



