He's taen a doze o' ane o' thae drogues he's aye potterin' wi'-fain to learn the trade o' livin' for ever, I reckon!
"Donal Grant"
George MacDonald
It has four harpoons; three or more lances; several small flags, called "whifts," to stick into the dead whale, by which it may be recognised at a distance when it may be necessary to chase another; and two or more "drogues," four-sided pieces of board to be attached to the end of the whale-line when it is hove overboard, and which, being dragged with its surface against the water, impedes the progress of the whale.
"Old Jack"
W.H.G. Kingston
To assist in stopping the whale's downward course, drogues were now bent on to the line as it ran out; but they appeared to have little more effect in impeding his progress than a log-ship has in stopping the way of a vessel; and yet they have, in reality, much more, as every pound-weight in addition tells on the back of a racer.
"Old Jack"
W.H.G. Kingston