The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-03-23
CAPTURE OF A WHALE.

The capture of whale is thus described In
Beale's Natural History of the Sperm Whale:
The scenes which sometimes occur during the
chase and capture Of the whale, defy description.
Let the reader suppose himself on the deck OF a
Smithsonian, cruising in the North Pacific ocean,
at its japanese confne-suddenly the monoto-
nous quietnde is broken by an animated voice from
the mast head, exclaiming, There she spouis!'
The captain starts on deck in an instant, and in
qures "Whereaway?" but perhaps the next mo-
ment every one aloft and on deck can perceive
an enormous whale lying about quarter Of
mile from the ship, on the surface of the sea,
having just come up to breathe: his large hump
projecting three treet out of the water, when al
the end OF every ten seconds the spout is seen
rushing from The fore part of his enormous head,
followed by the cry of every one ON board, who
join heart and soul i'll the chorus of {" There
again. keeping time with the Duration Of she
spout. But while they have been looking, few
seconds have expired-they rush into the boats,
which are directly lowered to receive them; and
in two minutes from the time of first observing the
whale, three or four boats are down and are DART
ing through the water with their utmost speed to-
wards their intended victim, perhaps accompanied
with song from the headsman, who urges the
quick and powerful plying of the oar, with the
common whaling chant of
away! my boys, away my boys, 'ts time for US to go'
But while they are rushing along, the whale is
breathing, they have yet perhaps some distance
to pull before they can get chance of striking
him with the harpoon. His ''spoutings are near
ly out" he is about to descend, or he hears the
boats approaching. The few people left on board,
and who are anxiously watching the whale and
the gradual approach Of the boats, exclaim, s'ah,
bo &c bo,c -
the water is again seen agitated around him, the
spectators on board with breathless anxiety think
they perceive his ''sma'' rising in preparation
for his descent; che will be lost - they exclam,
for the boats not near enough to strike him,
and the men are still bending their oars in each
boat with all their strength, to claim the honor
OF the first blow with the harpoon. The bow
boat has the advantage Of being nearest to the
whale; the others, for fear of disturbing the un-
conscious monster, are now doomed to drop
astern. One more spout is seen slowly curling
iorth-it is his last, this rising, his "smal'' is
bent, his enormous tail is expected to appear every
instant, but the boat shoots rapidly along side of
the gigantic creature. "Peak your oars ex-
claims the mate, and directly they flourish in the
air; the glisening harpoon is seen above the head
OF the harpooner; in an instant it is darted with
unerring force and aim, and is buried deeply in
the side of the huge animal. 1t is 'socket up"
that is, it is buried in his flesh up to the socket
which admits the handle or "pole" of the har-
pooh. cheer from those in the boats, and from
the seamen OH board, reverberaes along the still
deep at the same moment. The sea, which
moment before was unruffled, now becomes lash
ed into foam by the immense strength of the
wounded whale, who, with his vast tail, strikes
in all directions at his enemies. Now his head
rises high into the air, then his fukes are see,
lashing every where, his huge body VIRTUES in
violent contortons from the agony the iron has
inflicted. The water all around him is mass of
foam, some of it darts to corslderable height
the sound of the blows from mis- tail on the surface
Of the sea can be heard for miles!