ACTIVITY OF THE SPERMACETI WHALE. 533 
,/ connoissem's in Whale’s flesh assert that there are three qualities of meat in every Whale, 
the best resembling mutton, the second quality imitating pork, and the third resembling 
beef. Captain Scott, R.N., an eye-witness of this animated scene, and to whom I am 
indebted for the information, avers that there really is some semblance of these various 
meats, and that the “pork,” when salted and barrelled, might be readily taken for the 
flesh of the veritable hog. 
The same gentleman tells me that the leaping powers of the Cachalot are not in the 
least ex xaggerated, for that he has seen one of these animals spring to such a height out 
of the water, that the horizon could be seen under it, although the spec tators were 
standing on the deck of a man-of-war. The Cachalot was about three miles from the 
ship at the time when it made its spring. 
The Spermaceti Whale, when it is in the open seas, lives chiefly on the “squids,” or 
cuttle-fish, which swarm in that ocean, and when it approaches land, feeds on various fish. 
Tt seems, however, to dislike the propinquity of the shore, and is very seldom taken in 
“soundings.” It is a gregarious animal, being seldom seen alone, but in large herds, 
technically called “ schools,” and consisting of several hundred in number. The “schools” 
are generally divided into two bands, the one consisting of young males and the other 
of females. Each band of females is under the command 6f several large males, who 
exercise the strictest discipline over their harems, and will not permit any intruder to . 
join their society. From their office, these leaders are called the schoolmasters. 
At distant intervals a large overgrown Cachalot is seen roaming the ocean, apparently 
unconnected with any school. These solitary animals are, however, the “ schoolmasters,” 
which have laid down their authority for a short space of time, and are engaged in 
search of food. These animals generally fall easy victims to the harpooner, as they are 
very reckless in their conduct, and will permit a boat to approach them without much 
difficulty. Sometimes when struck they lie still and supine as if they did not feel the 
keen edge of the harpoon, and so afford time to the whalers to use their deadly lances at 
once instead of dragging them for miles over the waves. 
Sometimes, howev er, a “large Whale” will become belligerent, and is then a most fearftl 
antagonist, using its tail and its huge jaws with equal effect. One of these animals has | 
been known to drive its lower jaw entirely through the plankings of a stout whaling 
boat, and another well-known individual destroy ed nine boats in rapid succession. This | 
formidable animal was at last killed, and in its carcass were found a whole armoury of 
harpoons and spears belonging to different ships. Not only boats, but even ships have | 
been sunk by the attacks of an infuriated “old bull” Cachalot. 
An American ship, the Esser, was thus destroyed by the vengeful fury of a Cachalot, 
which accidentally struck itself against the keel. ‘The irritated animal, evidently thinking 
that the ship was a rival Whale, retired to a short distance and then charged full at the 
vessel, striking it on one side of the bows, and crushing beams and planks like straws. 
There were at the time only a few men on board, the remainder of the crew being in the 
boats engaged in chasing the Whales ; and when the poor men returned to their ship, they 
found her fast sinking, and only reached her in time to secure a scanty stock of provision 
and water. Husbanding these precious supplies to the utmost, they made for the coast 
of Peru, but all perished excepting three, who were almost miraculously rescued as they 
lay senseless in their neglected boat, which was drifting at large in the ocean, unguided 
by human hands. 
Like the Greenland Whale, the Cachalot is an affectionate animal, and though consti- 
tutionally timid to a degree, is yet possessed of sufficient moral courage to come to the 
rescue of its wounded friends. If the harpooner strikes one female of the “school,” her 
companions will not attempt to make their escape, but will swim anxiously round their 
suffering companion and remain in her vicinity until she is killed. Taking advantage 
of this trait of character, the whalers have often contrived, by sending a number of 
boats simultaneously, to secure almost every member of the “ school.” The young males 
however are far more selfish, and when one of them is struck, the others make off 
as fast as they can swim, leaving their wounded companion to shift for himself as he 
best can. 
ay 
