FISniNG BEGINS. 21 



Blubber about three inches thick, while the head ia 

 almost all oil, so that a good rich specimen will make 

 between one and two barrels of oil of medium quality. 



The school we were now in sight of was of middling 

 size and about average weight of individuals, and the 

 officers esteemed it a fortunate circumstance that we 

 should happen across them as a sort of preliminary to 

 our tackling the monarchs of the deep. 



All the new harpoons were unshipped from the boats, 

 and a couple of extra " second " irons, as those that 

 have been used are called, were put into each boat for 

 use if wanted. The sails were also left on board. We 

 lowered and left the ship, pulling right towards the 

 school, the noise they were making in their fun effec- 

 tually preventing them from hearing our approach. It 

 is etiquette to allow the mate's boat first place, unless 

 his crew is so weak as to be unable to hold their own ; 

 but as the mate always has first pick of the men this 

 seldom happens. So, as usual, we were first, and soon 

 I heard the order given, " Stand up, Louey, and let 

 'em have it ! " Sure enough, here we were right among 

 them. Louis let drive, " fastening " a whopper about 

 twenty feet long. The injured animal plunged madly 

 forward, accompanied by his fellows, while Louis calmly 

 bent another iron to a ** short warp," or piece of 

 whale-line, the loose end of which he made a bowline 

 with round the main line which was fast to the "fish." 

 Then he fastened another " fish," and the queer sight 

 was seen of these two monsters each trying to flee in 

 opposite directions, while the second one ranged about 

 alarmingly as his "bridle" ran along the main line. 

 Another one was secured in the same way, then the 

 game was indeed great. The school had by this time 



