NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 59 



The breadth of the head where cut from the body — just forward of the side fins 

 — was twenty-two inches. P'rom all we can learn of their breeding liabits, they 

 brint^ forth their young at any time, or in any part of the ocean, as necessity 

 may require. Off the Gulf of Dulce, coast of Guatemala, in February, 1853, a 

 calf taken from one was three feet long, the mother measuring thirteen feet. 

 In the same school it was taken from we saw several young ones apparently 

 about the same size as that above named, hence doubtless this foetus, had it 

 not been disturbed, would have soon ])layed in its native element. 



The Blackfish is taken for its oil, which is however much inferior to sperm, 

 and the yield is small compared with its size, which may be calculated as 

 varying from ten to twenty-five feet in length, and the production of oil from 

 half a barrel to ten, the coating of fat or blubber varying in thickness from 

 one to three inches, and nearly white. 



The flesh is like coarse beef, and after being exposed to the air for a few 

 daj's, then properly cooked, is by no means unsavory food, and is often used 

 by whalemen as a substitute for the fresh meat of land animals. The same 

 may be said of the different species of Porpoises. 



Formerly Blackfish were found in large numbers on the coast of Lower 

 California, particularly about Cape St. Lucas and up the Gulf, but, probably 

 from the same cause as made mention concerning Sperm Whales, these grounds 

 are now but little frequented by them. 



The Pursuit and Killing. 



Although the Blackfish is taken for its oil, it is not an object of pursuit by 

 the whaler, as is the Balaena and Cachalot. Sperm whalers do not lower 

 their boats for Blackfish when on Sperm Whale ground, unless the day is far 

 spent or there is little prospect of " seeing whales." 



The northern or polar whaleships pay but little attention to them, except it 

 may be when passing the time "between seasons," cruising within or about 

 the tropics. Occasionally a small vessel is fitted out for blackfishing and sperm 

 whaling, carrying a proportionately limited crew, thereby making blackfishing 

 profitable. 



When a ship's boats are lowered for blackfish the chase begins as for other 

 whales, although the masters of many ships have their boats all ready, and run 

 just ahead of or into the school with the ship before lowering, by which means 

 they are generally so much frightened or " gallied," that they " bring to," that 

 is, stop for a short time, or move but slowly in all directions, giving the boats, 

 which are instantly lowered, a good chance to "get fast." The harpoon fre- 

 quently kills the fish ; if not, a few darts with the hand lance dispatches it. 

 As soon as dead they almost invariably sink ; therefore, if the ship is close to, 

 the fish is towed to the vessel at once ; but if a considerable distance off it is 

 either made fast to the loggerhead at the stern of the boat, or a buoy is tied 

 to it and left, the boats continuing the chase. In this way quite a number are 

 captured from one school. 



Their favorite resorts along the coasts of North and South America, on the 

 Pacific side, are off Guatemala, Equador and Peru. 



VIII. PHYSETERIDJE. 



THE SPERM WHALE. 



Physeter macrocephalus Linn. 



The Sperm Whale in form and habits is in many respects the opposite of the 

 Balajna. Its color is a dull black, and in some individuals, particularly the 

 old males, approaches nearer to gray. 



Its principal food is "squid," the flesh of which is tender, destitute of bones, 

 and as white as that of the sun-fish. "The upper portion of the head em- 

 braces a large cavity, separated and covered by cartilages, and filled with an 



1869.] 



