THE SPERM-WHALE. 401 
at forty tons. It was bought by M. Bienvenu, ex-master of the 
port, for fifty francs, and the skeleton was sold to the Museum of 
Draguignan. 
The capture of the sperm-whale is a source of extensive 
employment. We are indebted to Commander L. Hautefeuille 
for some details of this interesting and lucrative fishery. Every 
captain has on board his ship two men keeping a look out from 
the mast-head, and four or five canoes, pointed at both extremities, 
called whalers. The moment an unfortunate whale is perceived, 
the canoes are launched, each one being manned by four strong 
rowers, an officer who steers the craft by means of a paddle, and 
also an experienced harpooner, generally a well-seasoned tar, gifted 
with presence of mind, a keen eye, and a strong arm. The animal 
no sooner feels the harpoon than he plunges rapidly towards the 
bottom of the sea. Before many minutes, he comes to the surface 
to breathe. The column of air and water which he spouts is 
frequently dyed with blood. He again plunges, but taking with 
him a second or third harpoon, thrown from other canoes. The 
fishermen sometimes use a peculiar harpoon, which is shot like 
an arrow by a powerful spring from a copper tube penetrating 
far through the skin of the whale. In recent times, another 
and still more terrible means of destruction has been invented 
—a kind of shell, which explodes after having sunk into the 
flesh! These new plans are not, however, much adopted. In 
the meantime, the animal rises again to the surface; but he 
is becoming exhausted, and he appears more frequently, and 
at last can scarcely plunge a few fathoms to prolong his life 
for some minutes. Now the canoes all join in a circle and sur- 
round the victim, and dispatch him with lances. But it often 
happens that a whale defends himself, and sells his life dearly ; 
then woe betide the unhappy canoe which has advanced too 
rashly: with one blow of his mighty tail, the monster sweeps 
to destruction all that are within his reach. The whale, when 
dead or dying, is dragged by the boats to the ship, where it is 
taken on board and fastened to the fore-part by the tail. The 
crews then celebrate their victory in the true English fashion— 
by a dinner—and afterwards proceed to cut up the carcase, an 
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