CETACEA, 



233 



GREENLAND WHALE (Baleena Mysticetus). 



poon, to which is attached a line of immense length. 

 The Whale dives, and swims with great speed under 

 water, pursued by the boats, the direction of his 

 flight being indicated by the running out of the 

 line. On coming fatigued to the surface to breathe, 

 other harpoons are struck into his body, and he 

 again dives. At length his strength is exhausted, 

 and long steel lances, plunged into his vitals, finish 

 the work of destruction. He is then towed along- 

 side the ship, made fast with tackles, and the super- 

 ficial blubber "flensed" off, by the men walking 

 on the carcass with spiked shoes. Both sides being 

 stripped, the whale-bone extracted, and the jaw-bones 

 hoisted on deck to drain, (being full of oil,) the 



