Nantucket sleigh ride

Noun

 * 1)  An obsolete and dangerous method of whale hunting in which a small boat manned by rowers and a harpooner, or a series of small boats tied together, would be attached to a whale by means of a harpoon and would then be towed by the creature at high speed across the water's surface, until the whale eventually became exhausted.
 * 2)  A similar scenario involving a large fish.
 * 3) * 1974, Peter Benchley, Jaws (2012 Random House edition), ISBN 9780307828668, p. 89 (Google preview):
 * They said they planned to hook the shark with a gaff and go for a "Nantucket sleigh ride."
 * 1) * 1974, Peter Benchley, Jaws (2012 Random House edition), ISBN 9780307828668, p. 89 (Google preview):
 * They said they planned to hook the shark with a gaff and go for a "Nantucket sleigh ride."

Usage notes

 * Use of this term is sometimes attributed to Herman Melville, author of Moby-Dick, but actually is not found in the text of his published works.