254 HISTORY AND DETAILS OF WHALING. 



smallest kind of fish are caught in the meshes, and are unable 

 to escape. 



Indeed, the edges of the bones, or slabs, as they might be 

 termed, are fringed with this coarse hair, and it extends to 

 their extremities, as may be seen in the rough state when land- 

 ed from whale ships. 



The length of the bones or slabs * vary in a great measure 

 according to the size of the fish, though some varieties of this 

 species have larger and better bone than others. The value 

 of the bone is enhanced, as a general thing, in proportion to 

 its length. 



The principal food of the right whale is a very small, red 

 fish, called "brit." Immense shoals of these fish are seen on 

 whale grounds ; and the water to a great distance, even for 

 miles, becomes colored with them. 



When the whale takes his food, he throws open his lips, or 

 lets them fall, and, swimming with great velocity, he scoops 

 up an infinite number of these small fish and others that ac- 

 company them, some of them scarcely larger than half of an 

 ordinary sized pea ; he then closes his lips, and pressing out 

 the water from his mouth, every particle of solid matter is 

 securely retained within. 



"The mouth of the whale is an organ of very wonderful 

 construction. In a large specimen of the race, it may measure, 

 when fully opened, about sixteen feet long, twelve feet high, 

 and ten feet wide — an apartment, in truth, of very good 

 dimensions. Notwithstanding the enormous bulk of this crea- 

 ture, its throat is so narrow that it woiild choke upon a morsel 

 fitted for the deglutition of an ox. Its food, therefore, must 

 be, as it really is, in very small particles. Such is the won- 

 derful contrivance of nature, and in which we can discover an 

 instance of remarkable wisdom in the Creator and Provider 

 of his creatures." 



The right whale does not fight or contend with his mouth 



'o' 



* Average, eight feet ; longest, fourteen feet. 



