Wood engraving of a large, harpooned whale spouting blood and water surrounded by eighteen Japanese whaleboats. Excited spectators look on in the foreground from land.
Caption from article accompanying the image: "The accompanying engraving depicts a most exciting scene in the waters of Japan. A vast expanse of sea is lighted up by the rising sun, while jagged rocks rise boldy from the surface on the horizon. In the centre of the picture a huge whale is spouting forth water and blood, for a number of harpoons have been fixed in him by the Japanese whale boats that are swarming round him. Whaling is an occupation of large numbers of the Japanese, and they are exceeding expert in it, though we will venture to say by no means to be compared with our "Long Tom Coffins" of Nantucket and New Bedford. The whale fishery particularly flourishes on the sea that washes the southern shore of the great island of Niphon, the locality shown in our engraving. The usual method of catching the whales is by harpooning in the manner of the Greenland fishermen. The boats of the Japanese, however, are much better suited to the purpose, being exceedingly small, light and sharp, as shown in our engraving, and capable of being propelled through the water with incredible velocity. The wealthier fishermen catch whales by using a net made of strong ropes about two inches thick. When a whale's head is entangled in this net, he finds the greatest difficulty in diving and swimming, and becomes a readier prey to the harpoon."
