496 CURRENTS AND WHALING. 



and July, of great size; although the season is of short duration, yet 

 large ships have obtained a full cargo before its close. 



It is impossible to meet a whale-ship on the ocean without being 

 struck by her mere appearance. The vessel under short sail, with 

 look-outs at the masthead, eagerly scanning the wide expanse around 

 them, has a totally different air from those engaged in a regular voyage. 



But admiration is excited on becoming a looker-on at the chase and 

 capture. When the cry from aloft of " There she spouts !" and the 

 quick response of" Where away?" are heard, the bustle on the deck 

 shows a state of animation that would scarcely be supposed possible 

 among such a looking set of men. The boats are immediately put in 

 requisition, lowered and manned, and within a few minutes the pursuit 

 is begun. The boats dash on until the boat-steerer comes within sight 

 of his object; the whale is soon reconnoitred, and endeavours are made 

 to approach him unobserved, and plunge the harpoon as near the fin as 

 possible ; a wound in this place is sometimes fatal, and no further injury 

 is necessary to secure the animal's capture. 



On being struck, the whale at once dives, carrying out the line 

 (which is kept coiled up in tubs) with great velocity, through a notch 

 in the stem of the boat. The velocity of the line is at times 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 dis- 

 tance 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 appearance, 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 monster 

 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 insufficient 

 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 



