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[[underlined]] 74 [[/underlined]] Tuesday July 31st '49. Clear. Winds light and variable Saw a Sail to the Eastward. We caught a very large shark to day which measured 9 feet 6 inch in length. I must give room for the following. entitled A [[Sceene?]] at Sea The Morn was quite remarkable On board the Bark Hersilia For in addition to the dawn So golden hued and rosy. We had a treat of varieties Beyond our fondest hopes All aiming as misfortunes do Not singly, but in troops. And first a "School" of Whales we saw A "School" I think they spell it Though if you ask the reason why I really cannot tell it. Unless it is because all day Like School-boys playing truant They love to frolic time away Of fun alone pursuant. We saw I say a school of Whales All swimming on together See-sawing with their head and tails Up one and down the other And showing now and then their backs, And every time they rose Their engines, working like a club of Fireman with their hose. The Whales, with all their Water works Were still an exhibition. When a school of Shining Porpoises Appeared in opposition. Around our bows the nimble fry Came circling like a Comet