The Wilmingtonian., 1823-06-26
From the Nantucket Inquirer.
TAKING OF WHALES,

OF whales there are five species the sper-
,haceti whale, the hump backs, fin backs, right
whales and grampuses; they are distinguished
from each other, at great distances, by their
spouts, and by the time of their remaining above
water. The spermaceti whale makes a low,
white and bushy spout, and will continue blow
ing for upwards of halt an hour; it is a very
ugly fish, has large square head, as hard al
most as iron. with long lump on the top OF the
back, and glides through the water with incre-
dbe speed tor such an unwleldy fish. The
hump-back whale makes small and low spout,
and disappears in few minutes. Its head is
sharp, and it also has small hump upon the
back. The hn-back whale, 50 called from hav-
ing sharp fin upon the back, makes very high
spout indeed and seldom blows more than five
or six times. 1t has sharp head like the hump
back. The right whale has neither hump nor
fin upon the back, and makes iorked spout
Grampuses are seldom taken by whale ships.
Spermaceti whales are by far the most valuable.
A whale ship is furnished with proper appa-
ratus for frying out the oil, and for heaving in
the whale blubber; il is surprising with what
facility the blubber of large whale is taken on
board. Two men are constantly kept aloit, at
the top gallant heads from SUNRISE till sunset
10 look out for whales, and the instant they
are discovered, they haloo with all their might,
there she blo,oSp a most joyful sound to all
hands. The captain now goes aloft and il the
whales are to wlndward, he orier, the ship to
be beat up to them, or il to lecward, to be kept
OF After running as near them with the shin
as prudent, the boats are lowered down. The
larboard boat is headed by the chief mate, the
waste boat by the Cd mate, and the starboart
boat by the Sd mate, if the captain does not %
himself. These whale boats are sharp at eacl
end, and in lien of rudder are stecrcd by ;
long oar. In the centre OF the boat, well eoiiet
in tub, 500 fathoms in length, is the ine on,
end OF which is made fast to the harpoon. Fiv,
men row the boat, and the man at the forwart
oar is the harpooner, who strikes the whale
these boats are furnished with five harpoons
three lances and sharp spade. The boat hay
ing rowedup TO the whale, the halpooner stand
up and darts both harpoons under her hump, !
possible; as there the irons wilt hold the best
and the men g. stern all,'' with all their might
to get clearof the whale. Sometimes the wha
is killed outright with the IRON at other time
the whale without fighting will very soon die
after being lanced; sometimes she will SCUM
or descend to great depth under water, at whic
time the line flies out Of the boat with the ra
pidty Of lightning, the friction frequently SCI
ting on lire the loggerhead, wooden bloc
around which the line turns. Other whales
when struck, will take to running, and alway
TO wlndward; and as the line is held on in Il,
boat, they skim through the water with amazin
velocity; others will light to that degree, tn;
the boat cannot get up to them. To stop
whales running. the sharp spade is darte
through her hukes, and this seldom fails
bring her to; if She goes down, the instant 81
seeks the upper air, the boat is briskly haule
zip to her, and the person who heads the boa
eandng in the head. attempts with his Ian,
10 prick her over or under the shoulder blad
iIAe succeeds, she quickly dies, as II is here III
ner life lies. Just previous to her death, 81
gees into hSr furry she will now run rour
and round, fight with her flakes and head t
when, with loss of blood, and quite exhauste
She turns upon her side, and dies. her head
ways towards the sun she is then towed ao