30 Directions for Whaling. 



line, which very frequently happens when fishing in 

 deep water, as a whale on being struck generally 

 dives, the boat's piggon is elevated on an oar or 

 boathook as a signal — if very urgent, two, three, 

 and even four oars, according to the immediate 

 want, are held up. 



The greatest care and attention are required from 

 the boat's crew, after getting fast to a whale, to 

 see that the lines run out clear, boathooks or 

 staves being placed across the gunwale to prevent 

 their fouling anything during the rapid career of 

 the fish, which will often take the whole length of 

 lines out of one boat in five minutes. 



Should the line, through carelessness or from 

 some unforeseen accident, become foul, unless im- 

 mediately cut (in which case the fish is lost) the 

 boat will be drawn down, and the crew placed in 

 imminent danger of drowning. 



Tuesday, May 13th. — Last night, as the captain, 

 doctor, and myself were preparing our midnight 

 meal — a villainous compound of cheese, pepper, 

 and mustard called a " crab," the door opened, and 

 M.' Slasher, who had previously informed us that 

 the appearance of the sky, which was of a greyish 

 hue, denounced the proximity of ice, reported that 

 we were passing ice. 



Leaving our supper, we jumped up, and were 

 hastily putting on our coats, when a heavy crash and 

 a trembling of the ship confirmed his report. We 



