THE SPERM WHALE i6i 



The figures for the last few seasons in the Antarctic may however be of some sig- 

 nificance. From season 1919/20-1931/2 inclusive the average catch of Sperm whales 

 by all companies was 41-3 per year, the lowest total being 3 in 192 1/2 and the highest 

 73 in 1929/30. But for seasons 1932/3-1934/5 the catches showed a marked increase, 

 being 107, 666 and 577 for the three seasons respectively. The increasing attention being 

 paid to Sperm whales in the Antarctic may be correlated with the increased intensity of 

 pelagic whaling and a decrease in the numbers of other species. 



Since this report was begun the International Conference on the Whaling Industry 

 has reached an agreement which affords protection to the Sperm whale for the first 

 time. It will be illegal to take Sperm whales less than 35 ft. in length, so that the cows 

 will be almost entirely eliminated from the catch. The species will receive further 

 protection by the imposition of close seasons on the various whaling grounds. 



SUMMARY 



This report discusses the results of the examination of eighty-one Sperm whales at 

 the southern whaling stations during the course of the Discovery investigations. 



The statistics in the British Museum (Natural History) relating to whaling have also 

 been used in conjunction with the data collected by the Committee's scientific staff. 



No indication of an uneven sex ratio has been found, though the sexes are to some 

 extent segregated by the habit of adult males migrating alone to latitudes higher than 

 those frequented by the females. 



A series of standard measurements was carried out on the whales and the resulting 

 figures are discussed. The body proportions of the Sperm whale are established, and 

 their range of variation is recorded. The measurements give no indication of any likeli- 

 hood of the Sperm whale being divisible into subspecies or geographical races. 



The colour of the Sperm whale is a uniform dark bluish grey with certain unpig- 

 mented areas of common but not universal occurrence. The form and frequency of 

 occurrence of the unpigmented areas is recorded. 



A number of small throat grooves are commonly present below the angle of the gape, 

 and the surface of the body is marked by a number of irregular corrugations that may 

 be strongly developed. 



Twenty to thirty teeth are present in each side of the lower jaw; they fit into corre- 

 sponding sockets in the upper jaw. In about half the whales examined, rudimentary 

 teeth, from one to eleven on each side, were present in the upper jaw. 



The food of the Sperm whale both at South Georgia and oflF the South African coasts 

 consists of cephalopods and fishes. Cephalopod remains are often very abundant in the 

 whales' stomachs, and usually represent animals of small size. Remains of very large 

 cephalopods are uncommon. Scars on the skin of the whales made by the suckers and 

 claws of large cephalopods are commoner than the remains of the corresponding animals 

 in the stomachs. 



The blubber is considerably thicker than that of balaenopterid whales. It increases 

 in thickness with increasing total length, but in immature whales it is proportionately 



