210 ZOOLOGY. 



When the head of a small whale is taken on deck, 

 the junk is separated from the case by following with 

 the spade an oblique furrow, or natural line of demar- 

 cation, which exists on the surface of the integuments. 

 The oily fat of the junk is then cut into convenient por- 

 tions for boiling, whilst the case is laid open at its floor, 

 and its soft and liquid contents removed. Should the 

 Cachalot, however, be of the largest size, the junk and 

 case are separated as they float by the side of the ship, 

 and the former is the only part of the head received on 

 deck: since it alone affords as heavy a purchase as 

 the main -mast can safely bear, or as the crew at the 

 windlass can raise. The case of so large a whale is 

 merely suspended to the side of the ship, in a vertical 

 position, and its contents removed by a bucket, pro- 

 pelled into its cavity by a pole, and raised by a pulley, 

 until the well is emptied. 



While these operations continue, the ship is hove to ; 

 the surrounding sea is red with blood ; and crowds of 

 brown and blue sharks prowl about, eagerly seizing 

 upon every drifting portion of the fat, but daintily re- 

 fusing to devour the flesh of the whale. Many of these 

 voracious fish are killed by the spade of the whaler ; 

 and for some time after, it is common to have the ship 

 attended by numerous pilot-fish and remora, whose 

 predatory associates have been thus destroyed. In the 

 higher latitudes, also, some interesting spectacles are 

 presented by vast flocks of sea-birds, of the alba- 

 tross and petrel families, which assemble on these oc- 

 casions, swimming tamely around the ship, and de- 

 vouring the floating offal with greedy clamour. 



From three to five hours are required to " cut in" an 

 ordinary school whale, and from ten to fourteen for a 

 whale of the largest size. 



