A Scottish journal, the _Caledonian Mercury_, describes the following
animated scene, which lately took place off the town of Stornoway, in
the island of Lewis. An immense shoal of whales was, early in the
morning, chased to the mouth of the harbour by two fishing-boats, which
had met them in the offing.
"The circumstance was immediately descried from the shore, and a host of
boats, amounting to 30 or 40, and armed with every species of weapon,
set off to join the others in pursuit. The chase soon became one of
bustle and anxiety on the part both of man and fish. The boats arranged
themselves in the form of a crescent, in the fold of which the whales
were collected, and where they had to encounter incessant showers of
stones, splashing of oars, with frequent gashes from a harpoon or spear,
while the din created by the shouts of the boats' crews and the
multitude on shore, was tremendous. On more than one occasion, however,
the floating phalanx was broken, and it required the greatest activity
and tact ere the breach could be repaired and possession of the
fugitives regained. The shore was neared by degrees, the boats advancing
and retreating by turns, till at length they succeeded in driving the
captive monsters on a beach opposite to the town, and within a few yards
of it. The gambols of the whales were now highly diverting, and, except
when a fish became unmanageable and enraged while the harpoon was fixed,
or the noose of a rope pulled tight round its tail, they were not at all
dangerous to be approached. In the course of a few hours the capture was
complete, the shore was strewed with their dead carcases, while the sea
presented a bloody and troubled aspect, giving evident proofs that it
was with no small effort they were subdued. For fear of contagion, the
whole fish amounting to ninety-eight, some of them very large, were
immediately towed to a spot distant from the town, where they were on
Thursday sold by public roup, the proceeds to be divided among the
captors. An annual visit is generally paid by the whales to the Lewis
coast, and besides being profitable when caught, they generally furnish
a source of considerable amusement. On the present occasion, the whole
inhabitants of the place, male and female, repaired to the beach,
opposite to the scene of slaughter, where they evidently were delighted
spectators, and occasionally gave assistance. A young sailor received a
stroke from the tail of one of the largest fish, which nearly killed
him."
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