36 THE WHITE-FISH HARPOON. 



or darting, and a skilful harpooner will throw 

 tliem with, sufficient force to secure a walrus 

 at four or five fathoms distance; when pos- 

 sible, however, they are always thrust or 

 stabbed into the animal, and in that case it 

 is customary to give the weapon a twist 

 or wrench, both for the purpose of withdraw- 

 ing the shaft, that it may not be lost or 

 broken, as well as to entangle the barbs more 

 securely in the walrus's skin or blubber ; if 

 this precaution is neglected the harpoon may, 

 perhaps, come out by the cut which it made 

 on entering ; this is more likely to happen 

 if the intended victim be lying with his skin 

 slack. 



When there is much likelihood of falling in 

 with white whales (Beluga or Balcena al- 

 bicans), it is usual to carry one harpoon of a 

 diflPerent construction, and with fifty fathoms 

 of line attached for their especial benefit. 

 The reason for requiring a different harpoon 

 for these cetaceans is, that their skin is not, 

 like that of a walrus, the toughest part 

 of their body ; but the skin of Balcena 

 albicans, on the contrary, is quite tender, 

 gristly, and gelatinous, and the barbed iron, 

 therefore, requires to be driven in until it 



