WHALE HUNTING WITH GUN AND CAMERA 



about with glasses at his eyes watching the water 

 ahead. I learned later, when seasickness was a thing 

 of the past, what a wonderful view can be had from 

 the crow's nest. The whole level sea is laid out be- 

 low like a relief map and every floating object, even 



Loading the harpoon-gun. "The charge is 300 to 375 drams of 

 very coarse, black powder which is ... rammed home from 

 the muzzle; then come wads of okum, hard rubber or cork, 

 after which the harpoon ... is hammered solidly into place." 



the smallest birds, shows with startling distinctness. 

 And if it is comparatively smooth, one can look far 

 down into the water and see a whale or shark long 

 before it is visible at the surface or to those on deck. 

 Before we left the station, the harpoon-gun had 

 not been loaded. The muzzle was plugged with a 

 wooden block and the iron rope-pan drawn upward 



26 



