96 THE SPERMACETI CACHALOT, 



rally swims off with great rapidity, stopping after a 

 short course, so that the boat can be drawn up to it 

 by the line, or be rowed sufficiently near to lance it. 

 In the agonies of death, the struggles of the animal 

 are truly tremendous, and the surface of the ocean 

 is lashed into foam by the motions of the fins and 

 tail. Tall jets of blood are discharged from the 

 blowholes, which show that the wounds have taken 

 mortal effect, and seeing this, the boats are kept 

 aloof, lest they should be dashed to pieces by the 

 violent efforts of the victim. 



When a herd is attacked in this way, ten or 

 twelve of the number are killed; those which are 

 only wounded are rarely captured. After the ca- 

 chalot is killed, the boats tow it to the side of the 

 ship, and if the weather be fine, and other objects 

 of chase in view, they arc again sent to the attack. 



The separation of the blubber from the animal, 

 or " flensing/' is sometimes done differently from 

 the manner used in the polar whaling. A strap of 

 blubber is cut in a spiral direction, and being raised 

 by tackles, turns the cachalot round as on an axis, 

 until nearly all the blubber is stripped off. The 

 material contained within the head, consisting of 

 spermaceti mixed with oil, being in a fluid state 

 while warm, is taken out of large cachalots in 

 buckets, while the animal remains in the water; but 

 in smaller ones, the part of the head containing the 

 spermaceti, is hoisted upon deck before the cavity is 

 opened. 



