340 A DESCRIPTION OF 
appointed to watch gives the alarm to those that are 
asleep, who instantly let fall their other four boats, which 
hang on the tackles, two at each side, ready to let go at a 
minute's warning, all furnished alike with six men each, 
harpoons, lances, lines, &c. Two or three of these boats 
row to the place where the Whale may be expected to 
come up again; the other to assist the boat that first struck 
it, with line; as the Whale will sometimes run out three 
more boats' lines, all fastened to each other, for when the 
lines of the first boat are almost run out, they throw the 
end to the second to be fastened to theirs, and the second 
boat does the same to the third, and so on. In this manner 
line is supplied to such an extent, that a large Whale has 
been known to carry off three miles in length of line. 
A Whale, when he is first struck, will run out above a 
hundred fathoms of line, before the harponeer is able to 
take a turn round the boat's stern ; and with such swift- 
ness, that a man stands ready to throw water on the line 
to quench it, in case it should take fire, which it frequently 
does. There was, many years ago, a boat to be seen in 
the South Sea dock at Deptford, the head of which was 
sawed off by the swiftness of the line running out. The 
harpoon would be of but little avail in the destruction of 
this animal; but part of the rowers, either at the first onset, 
or when, in order to fetch his breath, he rises to the surface 
and discovers himself to view, throwing aside their oars, 
and taking up their very sharp lances, they thrust them 
into his body, till they see him spurt the blood through 
the blow-holes : the sight of which is a sign of the crea- 
ture's being mortally wounded. The fishermen, upon 
the killing of a Whale, are each entitled to some small 
reward. After the Whale is killed, they cut all the lines 
that were fastened to it, and the tail off; then it instantly 
turns on its back : so they tow it to the ship, where they 
fasten ropes to keep it from sinking ; and, when it is cold, 
begin to cut off the blubber. 
