THE WHALE. 93 



oj ill success ; but whatever may be the case in that respect, the 

 ships must depart and get clear of the ice before the end of 

 August. The latest may therefore be expected in September, 

 but those that have been speedily successful, may return in June, 

 or early in July. 



The advantages derived from the whale fishery by the United 

 States, as well as several European nations, and particularly 

 Great Britain, are so well known, as to preclude the necessity 

 of expatiating on the subject. We shall only observe, that near 

 three hundred vessels sail from the latter country annually to 

 Greenland and Davis's Straits, in this trade, and for the most 

 part make profitable voyages. 



The catching of whales in the Greenland seas, among im- 

 mense masses of ice, presents one of the most curious scenes 

 that are any where displayed in the whole circle of the trans- 

 actions of mankind with the animal creation. These fields, or 

 fragments of ice, which are as old as the world, are frequently 

 more than a mile long, and above a hundred feet in thickness ; 

 and when they are first set in motion by a storm, nothing in Na- 

 ture can exhibit a more terrific appearance. No less than 

 thirteen Dutch ships were in one season crushed to pieces among 

 those ponderous masses. Perhaps the voyages made to those 

 rigorous climates and frozen seas, for the purpose of catching 

 whales, may be reckoned among the boldest and most arduous 

 enterprises of man. 



Every ship employed in this business is provided with six 

 boats, to each of which six men are appointed for rowing, and a 

 harpooner for striking the whale. Two of these boats are con- 

 stantly kept on the watch, at some distance from the ship. As 

 soon as a whale is discovered, both the boats set out in pursuit 

 of it, and if either of them can come up before the fish descends, 

 which is known by his throwing up his tail, the harpooner darts 

 his harpoon at him. As soon as he is struck, the men make a 

 signal to the ship, and the watchman alarms all the rest with the 

 cry of "fall! fall!" when all the other boats are immediately 

 sent out to the assistance of the first. The whale, as soon as 

 he finds himself wounded, runs off with amazing rapidity and vio- 

 lence. Sometimes he descends perpendicularly- and sometimes 

 goes off in a horizontal direction, at a small depth below the sur- 

 face. The rope that is fastened to the harpoon, is about two 

 hundred fathoms long, and properly coiled up that it may be 

 given out as fast as is requisite, otherwise the whale would im- 

 mediately sink the boat. At first, the velocity with which the 

 line runs over the side of the boat, is so great, that it is con- 

 stantly wetted to prevent its taking fire ; but in a short time the 

 strength of the whale begins to diminish, and the men, instead 

 10* 



