ANIMAL KINGDOM. 
89 ' 
beautiful double-headed six- oared boats, furnished with 
all the appliances necessary for their work, such as 
lines, harpoons, hatchets, &c. They start by daybreak, 
and roam the waters of the gulf till they spy a whale,, 
they then follow quickly in pursuit. There is much 
caution and skill required to draw silently upon the 
unconscious animal lying basking in the sun upon the 
surface of the deep. Wlien close upon him a strong 
arm drives a sharp harpoon into his soft coat of fat, and 
as he feels the prick away he speeds. Now is the time 
for strength and skill to be exerted. The men must 
pull for dear life. Before, one might suppose that once 
the boat is made fast to the whale, the men might lie 
on their oars ; but not so, unless they pidl hard the boat 
will be run under by the speed of the whale’s swimming. 
The man in the bow, who has struck the whale, stande 
with axe uplifted ready in a moment to cut the rope in 
case of danger, for sometimes the coil gets fouled, or the 
fish dives deep, and the rope all runs out; it must be cut, 
or the boat would be dragged down with him. Some- 
times they have an expedient of a tub to which the rope 
is fastened ; and when needs be they throw it overboard, 
and sometimes are fortunate enough to see it again, and 
upon taking possession of it they have the whale fast 
once more. But it matters not how deep the fish may 
plunge down, he must come up to blow; there is another 
harpoon thrust into him, and away he flies again. The 
scene now becomes exciting; the men pull hard, the 
man at the stern has to use his best skill in steering the 
boat, watching any sudden turn of the fish, so as not to 
allow the boat to be upset. Again the poor fish rises to 
the surface to blow, and another harpoon is driven into 
him, and thus he at length becomes weakened from loss 
of blood till they can easily despatch him. The whale, 
when captured, is slung under the whale-boat that has 
taken him ; other boats come’ to the assistance of the 
capturers, and with flags hoisted and conch-shells sound- 
ing, the whale is towed as quickly as wind and tide will 
