CURRENTS AND WHALING. 527 



so great, that in order to prevent the boat from being set on fire by 

 the friction, water is applied. After the whale dives, some fifteen or 

 twenty minutes pass, during which time the " fast" boat is often 

 carried a great distance from the others, for the whale in descending 

 generally takes an oblique course. The boat is so much buried in 

 her rapid flight, that I have at times only been able to see the persons 

 in her, for the water on each side was thrown so high as to conceal 

 the hull from a distant observer, although the sea was otherwise quite 

 smooth. 



As the whale rises, a skilful boat-steerer will be ready at hand, and 

 the moment the animal makes his reappearance, lances are plunged in 

 quick succession into his vital parts ; when off he again bounds with 

 the life-blood streaming from him, and shortly after, this huge mon- 

 ster is seen to turn over lifeless on his back. The shortness of time 

 that seems to elapse from the first onset to the capture and death of 

 so large an animal, is almost inconceivable ; and the apparently in- 

 sufficient means that are employed to accomplish it, are likewise 

 remarkable. 



The whale being slain, signal is made for the ship, if to windward, 

 to come down, or if to leeward, the monster is taken in tow by the 

 boats and brought alongside, when the "fluke hooks" and chains are 

 used to secure him ; the operation of baling out the head-matter then 

 begins, which is followed by stripping off the blubber in large pieces, 

 called "blankets," from four to six feet wide, to which tackles are 

 applied to draw it up as it is separated from the carcass. After being 

 taken on board, the blankets are cut up. The next operation is 

 " trying out :" this is done by melting the blubber in large pots set in 

 a fire-place of brick-work, which is carefully secured on the upper 

 deck, with a trough around it, in which water is put to prevent acci- 

 dents from fire. The fuel used is blubber from which the oil has 

 been extracted, which produces a strong heat, and is a very econo- 

 mical fire. To prevent accidents great caution is necessary, and the 

 readiest mode that has been found to extinguish the burning oil, is by 

 throwing sand on it ; a quantity of sand is, therefore, generally kept 

 in the "try-works." In well-regulated ships, the oil after boiling is 

 put into reservoirs until it cools, after which it is drawn off and 

 placed in the proper casks ; of each of these a sample is kept, properly 

 marked and labelled, and these are often shown with much pride by 

 the master of the ship to his visiters, as indication of his success and 

 the quality of his oil. 



The profits of the whaling fishery have been great, and show what 



