The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-15

the small fish and crustaceans which form
their food. The fihrous structure OF
vhaleboue. its elasticity and heaviness.
are all we'll known. The plates of it IN
the mouth are very numerous. several
hundred on each sitle and placed
very close togasher, the whole quantity
sometimes amounting TO over two tons in
weight. The tongue is soft. thick mass,
and does not extend beyond the back Of
the mouth. The gullet IS very narrow,
not over one and half inches even in the
largest, so that animals not much larger
than ones thumb cannot pass down their
throats
The skull Is not symmetrical. the right
side being larger than the left: the flesh ia
red and coarse the skin IA naked and
nloisteued by an oily fluid. Parasites in
fest the skin and some species Of mollusk
burrow and live in ir. Below the skin Is
thick LAYER OF blubher from one TO two
feet in thickness. sometimes weighing over
thirty tons This keeps the animal warm
and enables il 20 resist the great pressure
Of the water IN the DEPTHS TO which it de-
sends. The tail is FIVE or six feet long
and twenty 20 twenty-five feet broad, and
is r1ost powerful weapon OF defense. The
eyes, not much larger than those of an OK.
are on the sides of the head, about a foot
above the angle of the mouth. Whales
weigh from fifty TO rs tons, and of their
weight at least half is of value aud finds a
ready market
In addition TO the two tons OF whale
bone. there is about 800 barrels Of oil in a
bowhead whale. Besides the hone and oil.
whales afford q very valuable product
known 10 commerce as anabergris. Il is 4
morbid secretion OF the liver and intes-
tines OF the sperm whale. solid. Opaque,
ash-coIored. inhammable substance.
lighter than water. of a consistence Ike
that OF wax, and having when heated. a
fragrant odor Ii softens in the heat Of
the hand. melts below 90 degrees Fahren-
heit into a kind Of yellow resin, and is
highly soluble IN alcohol It IS usually
found floating on the surface Of the ocean
or cast upon the shore IN regions fire.
q1ented by whales, as on the coast of the
Bahama islands AIeutian islands and
other North Paci lie islands. sometimes in
masses Of from 50 TO 225 pounds in
weight In this substance are found the
heazs Of euttleish on which the whale Is
known 60 feed. It is highly valued as a
material for perfumery. and was formerly
used IN medicine IS an aphrodlsIac and
for splicing wines. Sometimes as much as
twenty 20 thirty mounds ia found in one
whale. ard all this . additional profit, of
course 4 bowhead whale is worth from
g.. $40 70 about s. coo.
Tnev feed by swimming along with their
mouths 0pen. When II closes the water IS
drained cut through the valves at the
sides and some is spo1ted up through the
blow-holes. The small fish and molIusks
thus captured make NJ their food.
Nar fT~ tho mode af limiting rha-1 On
all Of the whalars lookout is kept from
the "crow's nest" on the mast, and VIXEN
ore Is sighted squirting. the lookout re-
ports. There she bloxsH - Where away?'
is called from the deck. Two points on
the sta-noard bow. sir" or wherever else
il nav BE- Immediately boats are lowered
and the chase commences. The least IN
usual noise will f-ightaa them. and after
sail IL set on the boat N one u allowed 10
speax or move foot even II there IS no
breeze 20 carry the boat, then the man II
the stern paddles n that direction "a
noise. esslT as possible, not daring 20 Use
an car. for fear the splash viii frighJen the
victim
This boat follows "a closely in the wake
Of the whale "a possible, aai the bowman
stands n the low harpoon IN hand. This
harpoca. or Iron, - II - called, g a
broad -5saIed spear-dead chree or four feet
lorr. verv sharp, and having about s.y
fastened On 4 pole about ten feet long Just
ahead Of rT1n that IL fastened 20 the same
role. A strIaz connects the harpOoa and
tle trigger q the gun. so that when the
harrooa enters the flesh the pressure back
ward pushes the trIggAr spclnz- and the
bomb - exploded Then comes me fun
Stunned AMI sting a. he r. the whale
starts down 70 esc30e, and TIRE bowman
vsavs out the line attached 10 the narpoon
roe As soon as 10 Il slack ne halIs II
sra5n ard paws OUT when il tightens. 90
On Z res until rhe boat may have been
towel several niles. but Sill holding On
arE taxing another shot every chance
oaa~sf ard Is coon - rfs whale is killed
X "a hauled alongside and listened &c the
shir's chains.
The ur0cess Of s't3esh]n-' o. cutting ~
"a -rar,~ commenced some II tne crew
having their boots armed with iron spikes
=, kae- tke71 from zlippICg. descend gpaH
tba cs-ea=s Ind crs INTO tEe DEGboe- with
blrxbher SHADES. removing = broad strip or
blanket ef SKIN twenty Or thirty feet long.
whieh - hoisted ~ block and tackle.
Great cr7hIcsl pieces Of 0lEaber q nalf 4
ton Of more N weight are then cJaE oct and
nfg5ztest 20 me deck Il = s1irL-fi over ant
Z over -nt1k the fa< IS removed Meanwhile
ca-r u The crex removes inc oaleen Or
rhaleaoue from the mouth The re r3aIrf!e-
of The carcass "a dung zd-lfs az Too1 for
bears ard fishes The bAC11cr. after
Easry r0re5va4 On deck 8 EFT into sinai