9228 Natural-History Notes. 
under’ full sail, cruising about in search of their prey. Some steer 
straight ahead, with the crew facing in different directions, observing 
the boats in their company, and leaving no chance of a spout 
escaping unnoticed. Upon others the harpooner may be seen leaning 
over the bow ready to strike, and occasionally waving his right or his 
left hand to direct the helmsman after the fish in its various turnings, 
the strictest silence the while being observed. 
“ The boats are admirably adapted for following up the fish, as they 
sail well, make little noise in going through the water, and may be 
turned round and round in half the time and space that a foreign boat 
occupies, They are of different sizes; the smallest are about three 
tons, and the largest about twenty-five, carrying two small boats on 
her deck, and a crew of twelve men, of light draft of water and good 
length. On the bow is a crooked piece of timber, supported by a 
stancheon, which serves as a rest for the harpoow’ when not wanted ; 
it enables the harpoouer to stretch well over the bow, and see the fish 
as they pass below the boat. In this position they are struck, for the 
weight of the harpoon prevents it being thrown any distance. Abaft 
the Mainmast the deck is rounded so as to form the roof of the cabin ; 
on its top the whole line is coiled. 
“ The harpoon has only one barb, and about fifteen inches from the 
point of the iron it is made with a socket, above which an eye is 
wrought, with a cord attached to the iron, to which the whole line is 
fastened, and stopped slack along the wooden shaft, so that when the 
fish is struck, the iron and the line tighten, the shaft draws out, and 
leaves less chance of the iron cutting out, or loosing its hold of the 
skin of the fish. 
“The whale-line is made of native hemp, and is about sixty or 
seventy fathoms long, and from four to six inches in circumference, 
according to the size of the boat. Great length of line is not required 
by them, for there is shoal water all along the coast for many miles to 
seaward. One end of the line is fastened round the mainmast; the 
remainder is coiled away on the top of the house, and carried forward 
to the harpoon on the bow, where it is made fast, leaving a few 
fathoms of slack line. 
“The boats come out of the different harbours at daylight, and 
soon spread themselves all along the coast: as soon as a fish is seen 
blowing, away they go in chase. If fortunate enough to get it fast, 
the sails are lowered, the bight of the line got aft, the rudder un- 
shipped, and the boat allowed to tow stem foremost. The rest of the 
fleet, seeing the sail lowered, come up to assist; and as the fish now 
