A RUN OF FISH. 
287 
on observation, was seen with its jack flying, as a 
token of being “ fast to a fish.” Misled by a whale 
that passed the ship as the boats were lowered, 
which was mistaken for the “ fast-fish,” most of 
our officers pursued it to such a distance, that the 
real object of capture had nearly been abandoned 
in their thoughtless eagerness for the chase. One 
boat, only, out of six, joined the fast-boat, near 
which, in a state of great exhaustion, the fast-fish 
soon afterwards arose, and received another har¬ 
poon. A reserve boat that had luckily been kept 
on board, was now dispatched to their assistance, 
—and after a bold and energetic attack with this 
small force, had been continued for some time, 
the capture of the animal was accomplished. The 
sea here not being unfathomable, as in the more 
eastern fishing-stations, the line of the “ first fast- 
boat” had lain on the bottom : on its being hauled 
in, several fine specimens of the beautiful spe¬ 
cies of star-fish called Asterias Caput Medusa?, 
were found clinging to it. The depth of water 
was about 250 fathoms. 
Having taken the whale alongside, we ran the 
ship a little off the laud-floes, under a light breeze 
from the westward, and moored to a piece of ice. 
Several whales being astir, and the weather fine, 
we did not immediately secure our prize, but sent 
all the boats out again in pursuit. These whales 
