VI 



rection needful. And thus, so far as pertains to the 

 natural history of the " right whale," or mysticetus, 

 or to the usual practices of the northern whale fish- 

 ery, or to the general character of the Arctic re- 

 gions, he has made himself, in a considerable de- 

 gree, responsible. But in respect to the natural 

 history of the sperm whale, with the modes, adven- 

 tures, dangers, and conflicts of the southern whale 

 fishery, he has not ventured on any essential altera- 

 tions ; for what the Author states respecting what 

 he himself saw, or what, from credible information, 

 he received as facts, the statements given will, no 

 doubt, carry that favourable impression to the minds 

 of the readers which a credible, conscientious, and 

 intelligent witness has a right to expect. 



In respect to certain surprising incidents herein 

 recorded, the Editor has not felt himself authorized 

 to offer either opinion or comment ; first, because in- 

 cidents are not unfrequent in the whaler's hazardous 

 pursuits so special as to be deemed almost marvellous 

 in comparison of the occurrences of ordinary sea- 

 faring adventures ; and, secondly, because he him- 

 self, being in possession of no more information than 

 the reader, could merely offer, at the best, an un- 

 certain judgment. The terrible combats, for ex- 

 ample, described in Chapter VII., betwixt the whale 



