PACIFIC COAST WHALERS. 29 



whale. Sperms are but rarely taken at these shore stations, and I was 

 delighted at the unexpected good fortune. The whale was drawn upon 

 the slip early in the morning, and ample time was given to secure a com- 

 plete set of photographs and measurements, with a full description of the 

 animal as a basis for a life-sized model to be prepared at the ^Museum. 



The Sperm whale is a strange-looking creatin-e, the great square- 

 ended head ha\ing a size out of all proportion to the body and giving 

 the animal a peculiarly shapeless appearance. The whole upper third 

 of the head is devoted to an "oil-tank" containing the valuable sperma- 

 ceti, which lies in a liquid state and may be dipped out after an opening- 

 has been made. Fifteen barrels of pure spermaceti were obtained from 

 the oil-tank in the head of this individual, and twenty-five barrels more 

 were secured from the fat surrounding the head. The total amount of 

 oil, including the spermaceti and that ol)tained from the meat, bone 

 and blubber, was ninety barrels. 



Finbacks were taken at such infretpient intervals at Vancouver 

 Island, that I decided to go to the station at Tyee, Admiralty Island, 

 Alaska, where this species was said to be plentiful. Arriving there early 

 in August, I foimd that the reports had not l)een exaggerated, for Fin- 

 backs were being brought in every flay. I remained at Tyee about 

 three weeks collecting a considerable amount of valuable data, and 

 receiving the most hospitable treatment. 



At each of the stations, some time was spent on board the whaling 

 vessels, studying and photographing the animals in the water. Few 

 students of the Cetacea have made attempts to record their o])servations 

 with the camera. The discomforts of such work are many, and one 

 must be constantly on the alert. Nevertheless, the study is most interest- 

 ing, for the momentary glimpses of phases of whale-life obtained while 

 the animals are above the water give fascinating hints of what may take 

 place below the surface. 



The whaling steamers which hunt from the shore stations are small 

 steel vessels, having a maximum speed of ten or twelve knots per hour. 

 Mounted on the bow, they carry a heavy cannon which shoots a harpoon 

 ha\ang an explosive head or point called the "bomb." When the man 

 stationed in the "barrel" at the masthead sights a whale, the vessel is 

 sent at full speed in pursuit, and stopped on the smooth patch of water 

 called the "slick" which invariably follows the whale's dive. Then 

 begins a period of waiting until the animal re-appears. If the place has 



