f luck like this which now offered. The process of
paddling up to whales, which is now so common in the American ships, was
then very little or not at all resorted to. It is said that the animals
have got to be so shy, in consequence of being so much pursued, that the
old mode of approaching them will not suffice, and that it now requires
much more care and far more art to take one of these creatures, than it
did thirty years since. On this part of the subject, we merely repeat what
we hear, though we think we can see an advantage in the use of the paddle
that is altogether independent of that of the greater quiet of that mode
of forcing a boat ahead. He that paddles looks _ahead_, and the approach
is more easily regulated, when the whole of the boat's crew are apprised,
by means of their own senses, of the actual state of things, than when
they attain their ideas of them through the orders of an officer. The last
must govern in all cases, but the men are prepared for them, when they can
see what is going on, and will be more likely to act with promptitude and
intelligence, and will be less liable to make mistakes.

The four boats, two from each schooner, dropped into the water nearly
about the same time. Daggett was at the steering-oar of one, as was
Roswell at that of another. Hazard, and Macy, the chief mate of the
Vineyard craft, were at the steering-oars of the two remaining boats. All
pulled in the direction of the spot on the ocean where the spouts had been
seen. It was the opinion of those who had been aloft, that there were
several _fish_; and it was certain that they were of the most valuable
species, or the spermaceti, one barrel of the oil of which was worth about
as much as the oil of three of the ordinary sort, or that of the _right_
whale, supposing them all to yield the same quantity in number of barrels.
The nature or species of the fish was easily enough determined by the
spouts; the right whale throwing up two high arched jets of water, while
the spermaceti throws but a single, low, bushy one.

It was not long ere the boats of the two captains came abreast of each
other, and within speaking distance. A stern rivalry was now apparent in
every countenance, the men pulling might and main, and without even a
smile among them all. Every face was grave, earnest, and determined; every
arm strung to its utmost powers of exertion. The men rowed beautifully,
being accustomed to the use of their long oars in roug