Till! WHALE FISHERY. L'<)3 



This immense creature uses its caudal flu with remarkable dexterity, and often with the most 

 frightful results. The northwest coast whale, or the Pacific right whale (Balcena japonica), is 

 the most dangerous of the bone-bearing whales to encounter. When attacked, or surrounded by 

 obnoxious objects, it performs an evolution with its flukes commonly called sweeping, that is, 

 swinging them from side to side, and indeed, when greatly incensed, it " .sweeps from eye to eye," 

 churning the water into mountains of foam, and demolishing everything in range. Although the 

 whalemen anticipate this defensive and offensive maneuver, they oftentimes permit their passionate 

 ardor in the capture to exceed the bounds of prudence, and as a penalty sometimes lose the whale, 

 boat, apparatus of capture, and even their own lives. 



The sperm whale, on the other hand, is, as the whalemen express it, ''dangerous at both 

 ends." Although it does not sweep with its nukes, as the right whale does, it gives them up and 

 down motions, bringing the broad surface, with tremendous force and startling effect upon the 

 water; yet the caudal member should not be disregarded. If disposed to show fight, it relies 

 mainly upon its long, slender, treacherous lower jaw, studded with glistening teeth, and to this 

 dangerous habit, sometimes called "jawing back," may be attributed the death of many whalemen 

 and the demolition of many boats. Owing to the position of its eyes, it commands a wide oblique 

 vision, and consequently guards against premeditated attacks on both sides, but while it may 

 congratulate itself upon so wise a provision on the part of nature, it seems oblivious to the 

 fact that for the same reason the peculiar position of its eyes it cannot perceive an object imme- 

 diately in front or behind. To this oversight of nature, the sperm whale may attribute its defeat 

 and destruction, and the sperm whaleman his success and profit. The favorite method of capture 

 i to " take it head and head," or to "go on the flukes." In either case, it is better to keep the 

 "hump," a functionless adipose dorsal fin, and the spout in a line of vision; for in so doing the 

 boat cannot deviate far enough from its course to " get on the eye" of the whale. Going on head 

 \nd head is therefore considered a better plan and is always carried out when practicable. As the 

 ooat and whale are moving in opposite directions, they come together more rapidly than when the 

 crews follow the flukes. A few moments are of the utmost importance to a man about to strike a 

 whale. Though large, this animal is exceedingly quick in its movements when alarmed. Suddenly 

 the whale may change its position from a horizontal to almost a perpendicular one, and disappear 

 beneath the surface; it may "settle" away like a corresponding mass of lead, disappearing rapidly 

 from view, or with a dexterous movement of the flukes it may strike and demolish the boat. Many 

 Kperin whales are lost, when the boat "goes on their heads," because the harpoouer darts the iron 

 prematurely, and striking the impenetrable headskin, known as "white horse," bends his harpoon. 

 This happens, however, usually when an inexperienced or " gallied" boat steerer throws the iron 

 and loses his whale, because he did not wait for the orders of his officer. An expert harpooner, 

 on the other hand, need not be told when to dart, as he " chooses his chance" and buries his har- 

 poon abaft the head as the boat is laid off. In following the flukes, the rule is, of course, first to 

 overtake the whale. Having accomplished this, the boat is laid off', say to the starboard, to give 

 the harpooner a right-handed dart, and ranged alongside the whale. When far enough forward, 

 and about 1 or 2 fathoms, or possibly 3 or 4, from the whale, and moving in a line parallel with it, 

 *he boat-steerer has an excellent opportunity for darting the harpoon into the back, or "bilge," 

 and the chances of " drawiug" will be lessened if the iron gets fast to one of the costal bones. It 

 was the old custom with some of the whalemen to carry a small air-tight oil cask in the boat. 

 When they perceived that a sperm whale, usually an old patriarch, was disposed to show fight, 

 the cask was thrown overboard, and the ferocious animal immediately proceeded to attack it. 

 Prom its buoyancy and the facility with which it revolved on its axis in the water, the ca.sk became 



