Page:Natural History (1848).djvu/121

Rh all hands. "Whereaway?” eagerly demands the master; the position of the distant object is pointed out, and at each fresh "spouting," the watch, accompanied by every individual on board who has caught sight of the Whale, vociferates, "There again!" The spoutings being all performed, the elevation of the broad tail into the air, preparatory to descent, is announced in the same manner by "There goes flukes!"

The object of these announcements is explained by the remarkable regularity with which every motion connected with the respiration of this animal is performed, The length of time it remains at the surface, the number. of expirations, or spoutings, performed on each occasion, the length of the interval between the spouts, the time it remains submerged before again rising to breathe, are all, when the animal is undisturbed, as regular in succession and duration, as can be imagined. This circumstance is of the greatest value to the whaler; for when the periods of any particular Whale have been observed, it may be calculated even to a minute when it will re-appear, and how long it will continue at the surface.

At the first announcement, the boats, which are constantly kept in readiness, are lowered, and manned with joyful alacrity. Every nerve is strained to reach the animal before his spoutings are out, which, in a large bull-whale, may be about ten minutes. If he is too far off, however, they strive to note the direction in which he dives, stationing themselves near the spot where they expect he will emerge. On his re-appearance, the boats are rowed up as silently as possible, and the harpooner of the foremost darts his