This plate from William Scoresby's 1820 book An account of the Arctic Regions depicts the very real dangers faced by whalers in the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the whaling boats has harpooned a large bowhead whale and has signaled its success by raising a red flag at the stern. Other boats have been launched and are now coming to help in the capture. One of them has successfully attached a second harpoon and line but a third boat has met with disaster and has been tossed high into the air by the thrashing whale.