100 THE WHALE AND 



A Huge Northwester. A Veteran Whaler. 



forced trial of hydropathy is, indeed, so com- 

 mon an occurrence, that whalemen make noth- 

 ing of it. 



Those huge northwest whales are more vi- 

 cious, and less easily approached after they are 

 struck, than the whales of other latitudes. It 

 is considered no disgrace to be run away with 

 by one of those jet-black fellows, found in forty- 

 five or fifty degrees north; and many an old 

 whaler, who has made his boast that never yet 

 did a whale run off with him, has been com- 

 pelled to give in beat when fast to one of these 

 " Northwest Tartars." 



One captain says he has seen instances of 

 the most wonderful strength and activity in 

 these whales, greater than he ever saw before 

 in either right or sperm. He was once fast to 

 a large cow whale, which was in company with 

 a small one, a full-grown calf. They kept to- 

 gether, and after a time the captain hauled his 

 boat up between them. When they were both 

 within reach, he shoved his lance " into the 

 life" of the cow, at which she threw her flukes 

 and the small part of her body completely over 

 the head of the boat without touching it (al- 

 though they were half drowned with the water 



