‘When a herd is caught sight of that does not seem inclined to come within
range of the ship one or two boats are launched, which as quickly and silently
as possible endeavour to approach the Whales. Generally they rise several times
in succession at intervals of thirty to sixty seconds to breathe, then plunge head
first into the deep, remaining invisible for some time, even as long as one to
two hours. I f one has the patience to remain so long at the same place they
will be seen to appear in the immediate vicinity whence they dived. When the
boat has arrived in the neighbourhood of the “ shoal ” the steersman has to turn
it with as little noise as possible that the harpooner can take a good aim. The
best chance of hitting the Whale is when he is aimed at in the side. I f the
harpooner misses him, which often happens, especially in a choppy sea, the cannon
is again loaded and harpoon and “ forloper ” are hauled up with the greatest haste.
The Bottle-nose is not at all frightened by a shot missing the mark: on the
contrary, his curiosity seems to be still more excited by the report; in a few
minutes the herd reappears, and a good chance of hitting one is again
offered.
‘ I f a Bottle-nose is now hit the harpooner immediately twists the harpoon
line several times round the “ puller,” the steersman has to see that the line
runs out clear, one of the rowers hoists a flag to signal “ caught fish” to the
ship, from which one or more boats are directly launched to assist in the
killing of the Whale and to be at hand in case of accident. I f the Whale
has been “ hit well,” i.e. if the harpoon has pierced the flesh or the intestines,
he dives straight downward, often at an incredible speed. In less than two
minutes I have seen a line of five hundred fathoms run out. In consequence
of the great friction smoke and fire issue from the “ puller” so that the
fourth rower is generally occupied with pouring water over the “ puller” and
line. The greatest danger on such occasions is, that however carefully the
harpoon-line may be rolled up in the stern of the boat it often runs foul or gets
entangled when let out at so great a speed. A knot can be formed in it which,
when the line runs out, fastens in the “ halv-gat,” and instantly pulls the boat
under water. At the cry of “ not clear ” from the steersman, the harpooner must
directly cut the line with the axe. By delaying but a few seconds boat and crew
have been dragged down and disappeared forever. Another but no less danger is
that of the line getting wound round one or other of the boatmen, who must then
undertake the unpleasant underwater journey, or in all cases be more or less
injured. Instances are known of the line winding itself round the throat of a man,
so that he has been literally beheaded, or more often round his wrist, when he has
escaped with the loss of a hand.
‘ I f the “ fish ” has received a slight wound he generally keeps quieter. After
having drawn out one hundred or two hundred fathoms he goes no deeper, but
only backwards and forwards, till at last, usually after the space of half or one
hour, he rises to the surface to breathe. Generally there is a boat especially
intended for the killing of the Whale. When the harpooned Whale or “ death fish ”
reappears, this boat endeavours to get within range of him to aim at him again.
There is usually no difficulty in doing this, as in consequence of the loss of
blood and the violent movements he is often very exhausted and lies still on the
surface of the water ejecting low columns of steam often mixed with blood. After
being struck for the second time with the harpoon, he dives for a short space and
can then often be killed with a lance with which the hunter naturally tries to
pierce the heart or any other noble part of the viscera. At the approach of death
the Whale precipitates its immense bulk right out of the water, swims backwards
and forwards, lashing the water with his caudal fin making the foam fly high into
the air. These movements when the fish “ flies in his death ” are well known to
whalers, who must then keep at a proper distance, because it sometimes happens
that the Bottle-nose, that never attacks the boats even when harpooned, in his
death-agony throws himself right across them, crushing or capsizing them.
‘ The Whale having thus been successfully killed there remains the no less
troublesome and strenuous work of hauling up the long line soaked through with
the icy cold water, and the temperature of the air seldom rising above freezing
point it often happens that the line freezes immediately. After this the Bottle-
nose is towed to the ship and made fast on the lee-side. The “ flenseboat ” is
launched and the two “ flensers ” begin their work. With long broad knives the
blubber is cut up along the belly, head and tail are cut off and hauled on deck,
and two strops are fastened to each corner of the side with the blubber which is
turned towards the ship. Then the Whale’s whole covering of blubber is hauled
higher and higher by means of a steam-winch; the Whale flays itself, if I may so
express it, and only at the cutting off of the shoulderblades and a few other places
do the “ flensers ” need to use their instruments. Finally the Whale having been
swung round in this manner the last bands loosen between the blubber and the
body itself. The latter now deprived of its fat sinks into the water and becomes
food for the sharks. The blubber is hauled on deck, is cut into thin strips, and
thrown into iron cisterns which occupy the hold of the ship. The Bottle-nose has