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whale a bomb-lance, a comparatively re- 

 cent invention, is now always employed. 

 This lance is hollow and charged with 

 powder. It is fired out of a heavy gun or 

 blunderbuss, the powder in the gun ignit- 

 ing a fuse at the end of the lance, which 

 explodes in about fourteen seconds. If 

 the lance has been fired into a vital part, 

 the explosion generally results in the 

 speedy death of the whale. 



Although the whales were so numerous, 

 we at first had considerable trouble in 

 getting a shot at them. These fin-back 

 whales are in the habit of spouting five or 

 six times, and then, having filled their 

 lungs with air, they go down to the bottom 

 to feed, often remaining there for a long 

 time. Unless, therefore, you are pretty 

 near them when they first come up, it is 

 impossible to get near enough to shoot 

 them. At last, as luck would have it, a 

 whale comes up to spout for the first time 

 within an eighth of a mile of us. All 

 steam is crowded on, and off we dash in 

 the direction of the whale. Again he rises 



