. Narrative of discovery and adventure in the polar seas and regions [microform] : with illustrations of their climate, geology, and natural history ; and an account of the whale-fishery. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. i. :! i 364 NORTHERN WHALE-FISHERY. smaller portions, are received by the two kings, who stow thera in the hold. Finally, being by other pro- cesses still farther divided, the blubber is put into casks, and tlie packing completed by the instrument No. 2. As soon as the cutting officers have cleared the whole surface ^.^ing above water, which does not exceed a fourth or a
. Narrative of discovery and adventure in the polar seas and regions [microform] : with illustrations of their climate, geology, and natural history ; and an account of the whale-fishery. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. i. :! i 364 NORTHERN WHALE-FISHERY. smaller portions, are received by the two kings, who stow thera in the hold. Finally, being by other pro- cesses still farther divided, the blubber is put into casks, and tlie packing completed by the instrument No. 2. As soon as the cutting officers have cleared the whole surface ^.^ing above water, which does not exceed a fourth or a fifth of the animal, the kent-machinery is applied, and turns the carcass round till another part yet untouched is presented. This being also cleared, the mass is again turned, and so on till the whole has been exposed, and the blubber removed. The kent it- self is then stripped, and the bones of the head being . nveyed on board, there remains only the kreng, a huge heap of muscular substance, which is abandoned, ;:ilier to sink, or be devoured by the flocks of ravenous I'irds and sharks which duly attend on this gratifying .iccasion. The success of the fishery varies with the spot in whales are found; the most advantageous being the border of tliose immense fields of ice, with which a great extent of the Arctic Ocean is covered. In the open sea, when a whale is :jtruck, and plunges beneath tlie waters, he may rise in any part of a wide circuit, and at any distance from the boats; so that, before a second harpoon can be struck, he may plunge again, and by continued struggles effect his extrication. But, in descending I^eneath the ice he is hemmed in by the floor above, and f-nn only find an atmosphere to breatlie by returning to iin tuter Ujundary. The space in which he can rise i'^ tlius contracted from a large circle to a semicircle, or even smaller segment. Hence a whale in this position ib att-u-kec^ with much better chance of success ; even two nu.^ be pursued at t
Size: 1078px × 2318px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, books, booksubjectnaturalhistory
