3-021-005 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

"South Sea Whaling" by Oswald W. Brierly, in the General Exhibition of Water-Colour Drawings, Dudley Gallery, 1868. Engraving of a painting. 'Appended to the title...in the catalogue is a descriptive note which it is incumbent on us to give. "The picture," says Mr. Brierly," represents the 'flurry' or death straggle of the whale. This frequently occurs when it is nearly dead, when it makes a desperate rush to the surface, lashing the water wildly with fins and tail, and beating the sea into a great sheet of foam. The blowholes become choked with blood, which is driven up from the head in two great spouts; not unfrequently the whale in his flurry rises in the midst of the boats, when a scene of the wildest commotion ensues; loud shouts from the men, 'Stern all; stern! Lay off! Lay off!' every boat trying to keep clear of the whale as he circles desperately round, striking the water rapid blows with his tremendous tail, and occasioning the danger of instant destruction to men and boats. The whale is the whalebone or black whale (Mysticetus) of the southern seas." We may add that the fishery of the spermaceti whale, or cachalot (Physeter macrocephalus) is more generally associated with South Sea whaling'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.