Its average size is from ten to twenty feet long, and
seven or eight feet in girth, weight from one to three tons.
Blubber about three inches thick, while the head is almost all
oil, so that a good rich specimen will make between one and two
barrels of oil of medium quality.
The school we were now in sight of was of middling size and about
average weight of individuals, and the officers esteemed it a
fortunate circumstance that we should happen across them as a
sort of preliminary to our tackling the monarchs of the deep.
All the new harpoons were unshipped from the boats, and a couple
of extra "second" irons, as those that have been used are called,
were put into each boat for use if wanted. The sails were also
left on board. We lowered and left the ship, pulling right
towards the school, the noise they were making in their fun
effectually preventing them from hearing our approach. It is
etiquette to allow the mate's boat first place, unless his crew
is so weak as to be unable to hold their own; but as the mate
always has first pick of the men this seldom happens. So, as
usual, we were first, and soon I heard the order given, "Stand
up, Louey, and let 'em have it!" Sure enough, here we were right
among them.
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