264 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



at once an object of interest and annoyance to the whale, which was too much engaged with this 

 little nuisance to notice the boat as it stealthily approached. Some sperm whales, when mortally 

 wounded, more especially after eating heartily, are seized with a violent vomiting, and eject from 

 their capacious stomachs immense "slabs" of the Octopus, upon which this species largely feeds. 



If the whale is swimming "top-water," the harpoouer has a better target to dart at; but if 

 swimming under the " rim of the water," or about to sound, he must make the best use of his time 

 and opportunities and exercise his discretion. Again, the whale may be " scooping" or feeding 

 a more horrible sight has never been witnessed ashore or afloat than a large right whale with 

 contracted upper lips, exposing the long layers of baleen, taking in his food and while thus engaged 

 at times pays little attention to surrounding objects, and may be struck with comparatively little 

 trouble. And yet again, the whale when approached may " turn flukes" and sound; but the men 

 know by experience about the location where it may make its "rising," which it is compelled to 

 do for inhalation. It may reappear suddenly under the boat and smash or upset it, or it may come 

 up within a short distance from the men, in which case the boat is layed on and the boat-steerer 

 strikes him "wood and blackskin." Or, as is the case very often in right whaling, the boat may 

 sail over the whale broadside, striking it about 'midships at the very time the harpoon is thrown. 

 As before remarked, the right whale has the power to " settle" like a lump of lead when an offen- 

 sive object comes in contact with it, and the boat sails over without injury. Whales may also be 

 approached "quartering," the harpoon being thrown as the boat crosses the angle of the flukes. 

 All these conditions more or less influence the distance the harpoon is thrown, which is commonly 

 known as "darting distance." In many cases some of the "long-dart men" have thrown their 

 harpoons effectively as far as 4 or 5 fathoms. There is one case on record in which a remarkable 

 dart is mentioned. Two boats belonging to different ships, American and English, were chasing 

 the same whale, when one harpooner threw his iron over the crew of the other boat and " fastened 

 on to" his whale. The distance the harpoon may be darted, though varying, as a rule, from close 

 contiguity to 16 or 18 feet, depends mainly upon the actions of the whales and the most favorable 

 opportunities offered by them for burying the iron deep enough to take effect without "drawing" 

 when the tension is brought to bear upon the line by the actions of the cetaceans as they either 

 sound or run. The boat-steerer " chooses his chances," and, by the way, if he " misses his chances* 







several times, that is, fails to strike two or three whales in succession, under favorable conditions, 

 the captain deprives him of his office, and he may or may not have another "chance" on that ship. 

 This is what may be termed "hard luck;" but the success of the voyage depends in a great measure 

 upon the skill and ability of the boat-steerers. 



Stopping a running right whale with the boat-spade is at once the most dangerous and thrill 

 ing feat ever executed in the varied career of the whaleman; but this method of capture has 

 been superseded by the bomb-lauce. The old whalemen never tire of telling us, as their eyes 

 sparkle with the tire of youthful daring, how they "fought under the flukes of the whale." A 

 whale when about to "sound," that is, to descend into the water, must first get a purchase with 

 its broad, flat tail and then throw it high in the air, in order to dive head first; the officer of the 

 boat, taking advantage of this evolution, known as "turning flukes," would thrust-the sharp-edged 

 spade into the "small," in which are inclosed the tendons that connect the body and the flukes, 

 and having severed some of them, the tail became useless, like the disabled screw of a propeller; 

 progressive motion was arrested, and the whale became a comparatively easy prey to its captors. 

 Some of the whalemen were very skillful in this feat, even when the whale was swimming, or 

 " running," on the water, and it required powerful arms and courageous hearts to crown their 

 efforts with success. There is one case ou record that has come under my observation, where an 



