122 
THE BASKING SHARK. 
the weft of Scotland, where we have feen from fix to 
eight barrels taken from one filh, though it is only the 
liver that produces it. They lie quiet and motionlefs on 
the furface, commonly on their bellies, but fometimes like 
tired fwimmers, upon their back ; and it is in this pof- 
turc that they allow a boat to approach them, fometimes 
till it is within contact, without attempting to efcape. 
Then the harpeoner ftrikes his weapon into the body, as 
near as poffible to the gills : But fo infenfible are they to 
the wound, that they do not feel its pain, till, by the 
United ftrength of two men, the inftrument is forced 
very deep into their fiefti. As foon as they feel them- 
felves wounded, they fling up their tail, and dive to the 
bottom. Frequently in their agonies, they coil the rope 
about them, attempting to difengage the harpoon by 
rolling upon the ground. 
Having at length difeovered that all efforts of this kind 
are vain, they i'wim away with amazing rapidity, and 
with fuch violence, that a veffel of feventy tons has been 
towed after them againft a frefti gale. They fometimes 
run off with two hundred fathoms of line, and with two 
harpoons in them ; and will employ the fifhers for twelve, 
and fometimes twenty-four hours before they are fub- 
dued, When killed, they are either hawled on Ihore, or, 
if at a diftance from land, to the veffel fide ; where the li- 
ver is taken out and melted into oil, in kettles provided 
for that purpofe *. 
The balking lhark is from fifteen to thirty feet 
length ; the colour above of a leaden colour, and beloW 
a pure white ; the form of the body, like that of the 
lhark kind, is (lender and tapering. The upper jaw p r0 ‘ 
Fide Pennant ubi fupra. 
