398 APPENDIX A. 



for they cite instances in their experience when whales, after spouting a 

 usual number of times, have gone down, and, notwithstanding that every 

 thing was favorable for seeing a whale five miles or more, no whale ever 

 appeared. As I told you when here, I have experienced the same thing, 

 and under the same favorable circumstances. I and others have known 

 whales to come up close to the ship, no whale having been seen before on 

 that day. Without going his length he would get through spouting, turn 

 flukes, and never be seen again." 



Question 3. " The running speed of the sperm and right whales, when 

 gallied, is supposed to be from ten to twelve miles an hour." 



Question 4. "When struck, he will frequently go twenty to twenty-five 

 miles per hour for a short time, when he will generally stop or ' bring to,' 

 and give the ' boat-header' a chance to kill him." 



Question 5. "Sperm-whales have been known to run out three hundred 

 fathoms of line in four minutes, and sometimes to run out six hundred 

 fathoms in sounding." 



Question 6. " Two captains say they have seen eighty-barrel sperm-whales 

 breach entirely out of the water. I know the men, and believe them." 



Question 7. "To this question I will have to devote another letter. I am 

 acquainted with two or three captains who have had severe experience 

 with fighting whales. I will see them soon as possible, get their stories, 

 and send them to you." 



Question^. "Sperm-whales are sometimes taken on soundings on the 

 American coast, off the Galapagos Islands, and off Cape St. Thaddeus, in 

 from forty to ninety fathoms. I can not at this time call to mind by what 

 ships or captains they were taken." 



Question 9. "I can not learn, and do not think, that the great squid of 

 the deep sea has ever been seen entire. Pieces of it are sometimes seen 

 half the size of a whale-boat." 



Question 10. " Voyages are lengthened more on account of diminished 

 numbers of whales, than by their going in schools or their increased wild- 

 ness. G. A. COVILL." 



This testimony to the habits, etc., of the whale is so concisely 

 written that the letter is given entire ; and it is satisfactory to find 

 the impressions of the journal so nearly correct. It will be noticed 

 that a whale leaping clear of the water is rare, yet it must be ad- 

 mitted that it is occasionally seen. 



