RAY CATCHING. 371

In about an hour and a half after he was first struck, a favour-
able opportunity offering, a large five-pointed harpoon, made
fast to a very heavy staff, was thrown at him with such an ele-
vation, that it should fal] upon him with the whole weight of
the weapon—this having been as well directed as the first, was
lodged nearly in the middle of his back. ‘The struggle he
made at this time to get away was truly tremendous, —plung-
ing in the midst of the boats,—darting from the bottom to the
surface alternately,—dashing the water and foam on every side
of him,—and rolling round and round to extricate himself
from the pole. This might be considered as having given
him the coup de grace, although, at short intervals afterwards,
he was struck with two more harpoons, and several musket
balls were fired into him. Still he was able to set out again,
taking the four boats after him, which he carried along with
the greatest ease. Having gone in this way for some time he
came to a stop, and laid himself to the bottom, when, with
all the lines that were attached to him, it was quite impossible
to move him. All expedients were nearly beginning to fail,
when it was proposed to slacken the lines, which being done
had the desired effect, and he again set out. Having thus got
him from the ground, inch by inch was gained upon him, till
he was got near the surface, when he was struck with two large
pikes. He now got rather faint; and the boats closing on
him on every side, the combat became general with pikes,
muskets, and every weapon we had. In fact, to such a pitch
were all excited on the occasion, that, had a cool spectator
seen the affray, he would undoubtedly have imagined that it
was his saéle majesty himself that we had got amongst us. He
was now towed ashore, being about five hours since he was
first struck. This it required all the boats to do, and then
but very slowly. His appearance now showed the extraordi-
nary tenacity of life of which this animal must be possessed,
as his whole body was literally a heap of wounds, many of
which were through and through, and he was not yet quite