New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions . t fastened to him andwas stove. Then trom the first boat a bomb lance was fired into boat was at once stove by the whale, the bottom being knockedcompletely out. The ship picked up the swimming crews and wasthen steered for the whale. On seeing his new antagonist he rushedat her, striking her on the bow, knocking oft the cutwater with hishead, and tearing the copper and sheathing from her bow with hisjaw. The ship was again run for him. and as she ranged alongsidetwo bomb and two whale lances were fire
New Bedford, Massachusetts; its history, industries, institutions and attractions . t fastened to him andwas stove. Then trom the first boat a bomb lance was fired into boat was at once stove by the whale, the bottom being knockedcompletely out. The ship picked up the swimming crews and wasthen steered for the whale. On seeing his new antagonist he rushedat her, striking her on the bow, knocking oft the cutwater with hishead, and tearing the copper and sheathing from her bow with hisjaw. The ship was again run for him. and as she ranged alongsidetwo bomb and two whale lances were fired into the whale. A boatwas then lowered and two more bomb lances were discharged intohim without effect. By this time it was night, and the boat was calledaboard. The ship was kept near the whale, which could be occasion-ally heard fighting the fragments of boats and oars. Thus throughthe night,continues the narrator of this episode, he held his ground,although he had two lines (600 fathoms) towing on to the harpoons,five bombs exploded in him, and other wounds from lances. The. THE WHALE-FISHERY. 49 next morning the attack was renewed with bomb lances and thirtv-one were fired into him before he was killed. No limit to these exciting stories has ever vet been readers ot this book will be more interested in them than in thestatistical tables of the catchings and valuations, important as thevare. Here is the narrative of an experience which is tvpical ofhundreds of others. The captain of the bark Parker Cook of Prov-incetown many years ago lowered two boats for a bull sperm nearest boat met him head on, and, when abreast of the hump,the boatsteerer put two irons into him. Before the boat could bebrought head on, the whale jumped half out of water and capsizedthe craft, the line fouling the boatsteerers leg, almost severing itfrom the body. Manifesting wonderful nerve and great presence ofmind, the sailor cut the line. The other boat picked up the upsetcrew a
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