122 THE BASKING SHARK. 



the weft of Scotland^ where we have feen from fix to 

 eight barrels taken from one iifh, though it is only the 

 liver that produces it. They lie quiet and moti'onlefs on 

 the furface. commonly on their bellies, but fometimes like 

 tired fwimmers, upon their back ; and it is in this pof- 

 ture that they allow a boat to approach them, fometimes 

 till it is within contaft, without attempting to efcape. 

 Then the harpooner ftrikes his weapon into the body, as 

 near as pollible to the gills : But fo infcnfible are they to 

 the wound, that they do not feel its pain, till, by the 

 united ftrength of two men, the inftrument is forced 

 very deep into their flelh. As foon as they feel them- 

 felves wounded, they fling up their tail, and dive to the 

 bottom. Frequently in their agonies, they coil the rope 

 about them, attempting to difengage the harpoon by 

 rolling upon the ground. 



Having at length difcovered that all efforts of this kind 

 are vain, they fwim away with amazing rapidity, and 

 with fuch violence, that a veflel of feventy tons has been 

 towed after them againft a frefh gale. They fometimes 

 run off with two hundred fathoms of line, and with two 

 harpoons in them ; and will employ the filhers for twelve, 

 and fometimes twenty-four hours before they are fub- 

 dued. When killed, they are either hawled on (hore, or, 

 if at a diftance from land, to the veffel fide ; where the li- 

 ver is taken out and melted into oil, in kettles provided 

 for that purpofe *. 



The bafking Ihark is from fifteen to thirty feet in 

 length ; the colour above of a leaden colour, and below 

 a pure white ; the form of the body, like that of the 

 fhark kind, is flender and tapering. The upper jaw pro- 

 jects 



* Vidi Pennant ubi fupra. 



