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A LONG CALM AT SEA. 



On the 17th of May 1826, 1 left New Orleans on board the ship Delos, 

 commanded by Joseph Hatch, Esq. of Kennebunk, bound for Liver- 

 pool, The steamer Hercules, which towed the ship, left us several miles 

 outside the Balize, about ten hours after our departure ; but there was 

 not a breath of wind, the waters were smoother than the prairies of the 

 Oppelousas, and notwithstanding our great display of canvass, we lay, like 

 a dead whale, floating at the mercy of the currents. The weather was 

 uncommonly fair, and the heat excessive ; and in this helpless state we 

 continued for many days. About the end of a week we had lost sight of 

 the Balize, although I was assured by the commander, that all this while 

 the ship had rarely answered the helm. The sailors whistled for wind, 

 and raised their hands in all directions, anxious as they were to feel some 

 motion in the air ; but all to no purpose ; it was a dead calm, and we con- 

 cluded that iEolus had agreed with Neptune to detain us, until our 

 patience should be fairly tried, or our sport exhausted ; for sport we cer- 

 tainly had, both on board and around the ship. I doubt if I can better 

 contribute to your amusement at present, than by giving you a short ac- 

 count of the occurrences that took place, during this sleepy fit of the 

 being on whom we depended for our progress toward merry England. 



Vast numbers of beautiful dolphins glided by the side of the vessel, 

 glancing like burnished gold through the day, and gleaming like meteors 

 by night. The captain and his mates were expert at alluring them with 

 baited hooks, and not less so at piercing them with a five-pronged instru- 

 ment, which they called grains ; and I was delighted with the sport, be- 

 cause it aftbrded me an opportunity of observing and noting some of the 

 habits of this beautiful fish, as well as several other kinds. 



On being hooked, the Dolphin flounces vigorously, shoots off with great 

 impetuosity to the very end of the bne, when, being suddenly checked, it 

 often rises perpendicularly several feet out of the water, shakes itself 

 violently in the air, gets disentangled, and thus escapes. But when well 

 secured, it is held in play for a while by the experienced fisher, soon be- 

 comes exhausted, and is hauled on board. Some persons prefer pulling 

 them in at once, but they seldom succeed, as the force with which the fish 

 shakes itself on being raised out of the water, is generally sufficient to 



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