In Barrow Strait. 163 



of three miles an hour, the water in which we were 

 towed being coloured with blood ; but her furious 

 struggles gradually weakened, loss of blood and the 

 powerful efforts she had made to free herself, neces- 

 sarily caused great exhaustion, and at nine o'clock 

 a boat was able to come up, and, firing a rocket, 

 succeeded in giving the coup de grace with a lance, 

 and she expired amidst the cheers of all hands. 

 We had been over six hours fast to this fish, during 

 which time we had been towed a distance of up- 

 wards of fifteen miles, Cape Hurd, which was not in 

 sight when we left the ship, being distinctly visible 

 not many miles on our starboard bow, the fish 

 having headed up the sound. I can safely say, if 

 any one asks me how I went to Barrow Strait, 

 that I was towed there by a whale. No sooner 

 was the fish killed than we were able to turn our 

 attention to others round us, and three more small 

 ones were struck. I was not sorry to see the 

 bucket up on board, and at half-past 11 p.m. we 

 all returned to the ship, hungry and tired, having 

 been away, and therefore famishing, for fourteen 

 hours. I shall very soon reach my berth, and have 

 no doubt of enjoying a good night's rest; — four 

 fish in one day is not a bad day's work. The little 

 " sucker" that was with our big fish was seen in its 

 company for about half an hour, coming up to blow 

 every time its mother rose for that purpose, and 

 then suddenly disappeared after the mother had 



