256 HISTORY AND DETAILS OF WHALING. 



men, when seen at a suitable distance, by his "blows." The 

 column of vapor rises in a single stream in a vertical or per- 

 pendicular direction. This fish is termed finback on account 

 of a fin on his back, differing in this particular from all other 

 species of whale. The oil obtained from him is of the same 

 quality as the right whale oil. 



4. Bowhead Whale. This whale is smooth all over, having 

 no " bonnet on his head," as whalemen say, and as right whales 

 have. Their heads differ in shape somewhat from other whales, 

 and hence the name bowhead given to them. This species of 

 whale, so far as known, has never been found except in the 

 Ochotsk Sea and Arctic Ocean. 



The Greenland whale, and also the species called the great 

 rorqual, are doubtless included in the name which our whale- 

 men give to the bowhead. 



There are several other varieties of the whale tribe, and dif- 

 ferent names are attached to them, such as the " scragg," the 

 " humpback," &c. ; but the foregoing arc all the kinds whether 

 of interest or profit to whalemen. 



CHAPTER in. 



Whale Blubber. — Enemies of the Whale. — Affection of the Whale for its 



Young. — Instances. 



Whale Blubber. The following furnishes a succinct state- 

 ment of whale blubber : " That structure in which the oil is, 

 denominated blubber, is the true skin of the animal, modified, 

 certainly, for the purpose of holding this fluid oil, but still 

 being the true skin. Upon close examination, it is found to 

 consist of an interlacement of fibres, crossing each other in 

 every direction, as in common skin, but more open in texture, 



