HISTORY AND DETAILS OF WHALING. 251 



with other species of whales. He blows the water or vapor 

 from his nostrils in a single column, to the height, perhaps, of 

 twelve feet, inclining in a forward direction in an angle of 

 forty-five degrees with the horizon, and visible for several 

 miles. There is also a wonderful regularity as to time in which 

 he "blows" — perhaps once in ten minutes. He remains on 

 the surface of the water from forty-five to sixty minutes, and 

 under water about the same time. Unless the whale is fright- 

 ened, whalemen make quite correct calculation as to the 

 chances of overtaking him, or meeting him, or when he will 

 rise to the surface after he has " turned flukes." 



When the sperm whale is near, he can be easily distinguished 

 by the form of his head, unlike any other variety of whale. 

 Its head is enormous in bulk, being fully more than one third 

 of the whole length of its body ; and it ends like an abrupt 

 and steep promontory, and is so hard for several feet from its 

 front that it is quite difficult, if not impossible, for an iron to 

 enter it — as impervious, indeed, to a harpoon as a bale of 

 cotton. 



Besides, the sperm whale has a hump on his back, which 

 distinguishes him from others. This hump is farther forward 

 than the fin on the finback whale. 



Sperm whales have been captured from seventy to ninety 

 feet in length, and from thirty to forty-five feet in circumfer- 

 ence round the largest part of their bodies. It is supposed by 

 whalemen, from their appearance, that they live, or some of 

 them at least, to a great age. One writer on this subject 

 thought that the sperm whale would attain the age of many 

 hundred years, and even to a thousand years. This, however, 

 is mere conjecture, because there are no dates or facts upon 

 which to found a correct opinion. 



Some whales have been taken having their teeth worn off 

 level with the gums ; and then, again, in other instances, part 

 of their teeth have been broken off, or torn out by some violent 

 effort. 



