LANCING
To kill the whale at a single thrust required the greatest skill, and the boat to be laid on at the right spot.
The mate, awaiting the moment when he could reach the “life,” made repeated thrusts with his lance in order to weaken the victim.
The success of the final stroke was proclaimed by “spouting red”—and the dying whale went into a “flurry,” which consisted of swimming round in a gradually diminishing circle until with a final thrashing of his giant flukes he rolled over on his side “fin out.”
Lancing