After this manoeuvre he went leisurely around us, keeping about a hundred yards away.
"He is working his engines on the slow bell," said our engineer, "and keeps his helm hard-a-port." We brought out our rifles to try this new game, though the practice was as much a trial of skill as the traditional 'barn at ten paces.' Several shots were fired, but I did not see any thing drop.

The sport was amusing to all concerned; at any rate the whale didn't seem to mind it, and we were delighted at the fun.

When his survey was finished he braced his helm to starboard, opened his throttle valves and went away to windward.
We estimated his length at a hundred and twenty feet, and thought he might register 'A 1,' at the proper office.

Captain Patterson called him a 'bow head,' good for a hundred barrels of oil and a large quantity of bone.

The Colonel proposed engaging him to tow us into port.