THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 389 



and longer. The difference which first strikes the observer 

 is the great prominence of the spout-holes of the bow-head ; 

 hence it is sometimes called the " steeple-top." As the whale 

 lives on the surface, this steeple becomes the prominent point, 

 as the hump of the spermaceti. It differs from its congener 

 of the Southern seas, in having no barnacles along the edge 

 of the lips. Upon the nose, or on the projection above the 

 eyes, its bone is also longer ; the blubber much thicker, soft- 

 er, and richer in oil. In other respects it closely resembles 

 the right whale. 



The first discovery of the great value of this whale, as I 

 am informed, was about, the year 1846. The Mount Ver- 

 non, of New Bedford, Captain George A. Covill, was cruis- 

 ing in the Sea of Okhotsk for right whales, which were plen- 

 ty, and the captain had his pick for most of the time. But 

 one day his blubber-room was empty, and no sperm-whales 

 were immediately about the ship, when a bow-head was dis- 

 covered a mile to leeward. The first and second mates' boats 

 were sent down, with the option of fastening or not, as seem- 

 ed best. Their course was watched from the deck, when 

 they were observed to heave up their oars at a short dis- 

 tance from the suspicious-looking monster, as though study- 

 ing his motions. Captain Covill now directed his atten- 

 tion to more distant right whales. After a time the mates 

 went on to the bow-head, and with little trouble killed him. 

 When towed alongside, they estimated it as about equal to 

 a seventy-barrel right whale. But they were pleasantly sur- 

 prised by the great thickness of the blubber, and the length 

 and weight of the bone. The prize tried out some one hun- 

 dred and fifty barrels. 



It was not until the next year that Captain Boyce, of the i 

 Superior, made the first cruise inside Behring Strait, where 

 bow-heads were found in great numbers and of great size. 

 Captain Covill took two whales at one lowering, which 



