South Sea Whale Fishery. A Representation of Boats Attacking a Sperm Whale from descriptions given by experienced officers and masters in the South Sea Fishery

A sperm whale flounders in agony as it is being harpooned by a whale boat's crewman. The movement of the whale almost tips over another whale boat and one of the crew members is about to fall into the water. In the distance on the right, the main whaling vessel is visible. In the distant on the left, a whale boat has already attached itself to the whale and is following the animal by the rope attached to the harpoon.