The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-07-30

by whales in their search after food. The flesh Of
the squid is sot-without bones, and somewhat
transparent, like the common sun-fsh seen on our
shores. 1t is said, that squid have been seen as
large as an ordinary whale. This food for the sperm
whale is found in great abundance in the Pacific seas.
The RIGHT WHALE-The whale having this gen.
eral cognomen, belongs to the species OF Bafena
-Mgsticefus- There are several varieties included IN
this species as we shall hereafter observe, and which
are distinguished by whalemen, both IN regard to
some external popularity as well as the different
localities where they are usually found.
The Right whale differs from the Sperm in the fol-
lowing particulars His heal is sharper, more
pointed-he has no e.hump" on his back--the column
Of water which he throws up when he ''blows" Is
divided like the tines of a fork, and 1t rises from his
breathing holds in a perpendicular dlrection, from
eight to twenty feet.
The Right whale furnishes the bone (Bateen) so
much in common use, and called "whaieoone.
This bone is taken from The mouth and upper jaw OF
the whale and is set along laterally in the most exact
order several inches apart, decreasing in length from
the center of his mouth, or the arch OF his palate,
and becoming shorter farther back; while towards
the lips the bone tapers away into mere Drlsties'
forming a loose hanging fringe or border.
At the bottom of this row of bone, where 1t pene-
trates the gum, and from eighteen to thirty inches
downward, we find a material that resembles coarse
hair, entwining and interlacing the bone, and thus
forming n sort of net work, and SO thick that when the
whale closes his lips to press out the water, the smallest
kind of fish are caught in the meshes, and are unable
to escape.
Indeed, the edges of the bone or slabs, as they might
be termed, are fringed with this coarse hair ana 1t
extends to their extremities, as may be seen in the
rough state when landed from whaleships.
The length of the bones or slabs, vary in a great
measure according 10 the size of the fish; though some
varieties of this species have larger and better bone
than others. The value of the bone is enhanced as a
general thing in proportion to its length.
The principal food of the right whale 1s a very
small red fish, called "Brit.i' Immense shoals OF
these fish are seen on whale grounds, and the water
70 n uraaf Distance even for miles becomes cOlOreQ
with them.
When the whale takes his food, he throws open his
lips, or lets them fall, and swimming with great
velocity, he scoops up an infinite number OF these
small fish and others, that accompany them, some OF
them scarcely larger than half of an ordinary size
pea; he then closes his lips, and pressing out the wa
ter from his mouth. every particle of solid matter Is
securely retained within.
"The mouth of the whale IS an organ OF very
wonderful construction. In a large specimen OF the
race, it may measure when fully opened about sixteen
feet long, twelve feet high and ten feet wide-an
apartment in truth of very good dimensions. Not
withstanding the enormous bulk of this creature, Its
throat is so narrow, it would choke upon a morsel
fitted for the deglutition of an OK Its food, therefore,
must be as it really is, in very small particles.
Such is the wonderful contrivancs of nature, and Il
which We can discover an instance of remarkable
wisdom in the Creator and Provider of his creatures"
The right whale does not fight or contend with his
mouth or head, as the sperm whale does, but his
means of attack and defence are chiefly in his enor-
nous fukes. He will, however, when struck, ''root
around rs whalemen say, and not unfrequently IN
this manner upset a boat.
This kind of whale and other varieties distinguished
by the 6Gleen or bone, have no regular time for
remaining on the surface of the water after they
{" breach nor in remaining under water, after they
&c turn fukes.'s The length of a large right whale is
about so feet and some have yielded their captors $50
to 300 barrels of oil.
Such a whale would perhaps weigh not far from
eighty tons. Allowing one OK to weigh twenty-five
hundred or three thousand pounds, he would weigh
down more than fifty of such animals.
Sometimes a whale will turn its head downwards,
and, moving its tremendous tail high in the air, will
lash the water with violence, raising a cloud of
vapor, and sending a loud report to the distance of
two or three miles. This is called lob falling by
whalemen-
The oil of this species of whale is less valuable than
the sperm. The 8 whalebone,' which now has an
advanced price in the market far beyond any previous
value attached to it, is obtained from the mouth of
the whale about in proportion of 1000 lbs to 100 bbls.
of oil.
The FISBAcK WHALE-This is a smooth, slim fish
smaller usually than a right whale. He is found
in nearly all latitudes. he has q thump'' on his
back, which distinguishes him from the right whale.
His head and mouth are of the same construction.
This whale is know by whalemen when seen at a
suitable distance by his elbows The column of
vapour rises in a single stream, in a verticle or per-
pendicular direction. This fish is termed FiRback,
on account of a fin on his back, differing in this par
ticular from all other species of whale. The oil
obtained from him is of the same quality as the right
whale oil.
BowHEAD WHALE.-Thisw whale is smooth all over,
having no sbonnet on his head as whalemen say,
and as right whales have. Their heads differ in
shape somewhat from other whales, and hence the
name boLcbacE given 20 them This species of whale,
so far as known, have never been found except in the
Ochotsk Sea and Arctic Ocean