A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



689 



d. — The Sperm Whale ; Spermaceti Whale; Trompe Whale; Trunk- 

 Whale; Cachelot. {Physeter macrocephalus L.) 



Figure 46. 



The Sperm Whale has always been found in Bermuda waters, 

 but it has never been abundant there, nor does it often come into 

 shallow water. Its habits are more erratic and it does not migrate 

 regularly, like the Hump-back. It is found in all tropical and sub- 

 tropical seas, and seems to be particularly fond of the Gulf Stream, 

 probably because it finds there an abundance of squids and other 

 cephalopods, which are its favorite food. Probably its migrations 

 are largely dependent on the supply of such food. 



However, it was certainly much more abundant off Bermuda in 

 the 17th and 18th centuries than it has been in this century. Its 

 decrease cannot be attributed, in any great measure, to the Bermuda 

 whalers, but rather to the American whalers, whose vessels have 

 hunted it up and down the Gulf Stream for two centuries, killing- 

 large numbers every year. 



Formerly it Was very numerous in the Gulf Stream, between the 

 Carolina Coasts and Bermuda. There are records of schools contain- 

 ing several hundreds, or even a thousand, having been seen in that 

 region. The number that strayed eastward, within sight of Ber- 

 muda, was comparatively small, but yet the early records often refer 

 to their frequent occurrence, though they were rarely attacked by 

 the local fishermen in the 17th century, for owing to their lack of 

 knowledge and experience the few attempts that were made proved 

 abortive and discouraging. 



Figure 456. — Fin-back or Rorqual 

 (J5. physalus.) 



'*&***=>==**'&*' 



^_j2-'riTiiiT^''j''T"^ 



ifcffiw j gre ^ 



L -100 



Figure 46. — Sperm Whale. 



But during the 18th century and more recently they have been 

 frequently captured. In fact, it would appear that since 1800 sperm 

 whales have been more often taken than any other kind. During 

 the past thirty or forty years they have been almost the only whales 

 taken. Formerly they seem to have been much larger than those 



44 



Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. XI. 



July, 1902. 



