. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . o another is immediatelyfastened to the end of the first, and so on; and there have been instances,where all the rope belonging to the six boats has been necessary, thoughhalf that quantity is seldom required. The whale cannot stay long belowwater, but again comes up to blow; and being now much fatigued andwounded, stays longer above water than usual. This gives another boatlime o come up with him, and he is again struck with a harpoon. He 404 MAMMALIA-WHALE. ag
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . o another is immediatelyfastened to the end of the first, and so on; and there have been instances,where all the rope belonging to the six boats has been necessary, thoughhalf that quantity is seldom required. The whale cannot stay long belowwater, but again comes up to blow; and being now much fatigued andwounded, stays longer above water than usual. This gives another boatlime o come up with him, and he is again struck with a harpoon. He 404 MAMMALIA-WHALE. again descends, but with less force than before; and when he comes upagain, is generally incapable of descending, but suffers himself to be wound-ed and killed with long lances, with which the men are provided for thepurpose. He is known to be near death when he spouts up the water deep-ly tinged with blood. The whale being dead, is lashed along side the ship. They then lay iton one side, and put two ropes, one at the head, and the other in the placeof the tail, which, together with the fins, is struck off as soon as he is taken,. to keep these extremities above water. On the off side of the whale arewo boats, to receive the pieces of fat, utensils, and men, that might other-wise fall into the water on that side. These precautions taken, thretor four men with irons at their feet, to prevent slipping, get on the whale,and begin to cut out pieces of about three feet thick and eight long, whichare hauled up at the capstan or windlass. When the fat is all got off, theycut off the whiskers of the upper jaw, with an axe. Before they are cut, theyare all lashed to keep them firm; which also facilitates the cutting, andprevents them from falling into the sea. When on board, five or six ofthem are bundled together, and properly stowed; and after all is got off,the carcass is turned adrift, and devoured bv the bears, who are very fondof it. In proportion as the large pieces of fat a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidnaturalistsl, bookyear1851
