done on the side towards the river, forming a
long line of twigs at moderate distances, which at the upper end is
connected with the shore, an opening being left at the lower end, that
they may enter. As the tide rises, it covers the twigs, so as to keep
them out of sight: the porpoise, in quest of his prey, gets within the
line; when those who placed the snare rush out in numbers, properly
armed, and, while in this defenceless state, they overpower him with
ease.

THE WHALE.

Of this monster of the deep there are several species--as the Great
Whale, which is seventy or eighty feet in length; the Spermaceti Whale,
which is somewhat smaller, &c. They frequent various seas, and are most
common in cold latitudes.

To the Greenlanders, as well as the natives of more southern climates,
the whale is an animal of essential importance; and these people spend
much time in fishing for it. When they set out on their whale-catching
expeditions, they dress themselves in their best apparel, fancying
that, if they are not cleanly and neatly clad, the whale, who detests a
slovenly and dirty garb, would immediately avoid them. In this manner
about fifty persons, men and women, set out together in one of their
large boats. The women carry along with them their needles, and other
implements, to mend their husbands' clothes, in case they should be
torn, and to repair the boat, if it happen to receive any damage. When
the men discover a whale, they strike it with their harpoons, to which
are fastened lines or straps two or three fathoms long, made of
seal-skin, having at the end a bag of a whole seal-skin, blown up. The
huge animal, by means of the inflated bag, is in some degree compelled
to keep near the surface of the water. When he is fatigued, and rises,
the men attack him with their spears till he is killed.

The affection and fidelity of the male and female are very great.
Anderson informs us that some fishermen having harpooned one of two
whales that were in company together, the wounded animal made a long
and terrible resistance; it upset a boat containing three men with a
single blow of its tail, by which all went to the bottom. The other
still attended its companion, and lent it every assistance, till at
last the one that was struck sank under its wounds; while its faithful
associate, disdaining to survive the loss, with great bellowing,
stretched itself upon the dead animal, and shared its fate.

The whale is remarkable