HISTORY OF THE WHALE. 91 



grounds of the whale, as well as the molusca and other 

 smalt animals on which they feed, are rare, or not at all 

 seen, in lower latitudes. Mariners, it is true, often make 

 such statements as the above ; they have in this way re- 

 ported, that great shoals of the largest whales frequent the 

 northern shores of Lapland; and this is so far true; but, 

 on examination, it is found not to be the mysticetus, but the 

 rorquail, which comes next under our review, and we are 

 disposed to think, that "the bodies of whales" will 

 be found to belong to this species, which, we shall present- 

 ly see, is usually avoided as unworthy of capture. 



A description of the more valuable products of the whale 

 will follow in the succeeding sketch of the fishery ; but we 

 shall now say a few words of those portions of it which are 

 used in the domestic economy of uncivilized nations. 



Although, to the palate of the refined American, the flesh 

 of this whale would be looked upon with abhorrence as an 

 article of food ; yet by some of the inhabitants of the bor- 

 ders of the frozen seas, it is regarded as a choice article of 

 subsistence. The Esquimaux eat the flesh and fat, and 

 drink the oil with great greediness. Indeed, some tribes 

 which are not familiar with spirituous liquor, carry along 

 with them in their canoes, bladders filled with oil, which 

 they use in the same way and with a similar relish as a 

 toper does his dram. They also eat the skin of the whale 

 raw, both adults and children ; even the infants suck it 

 with apparent delight. Blubber, when pickled and boiled, 

 is said to be very palatable ; the tail, when parboiled and 

 then fried, is said to be not unsavory, but even agreeable 

 eating ; and the flesh of young whales is by no means in- 

 different food. 



Besides forming a choice eatable, the inferior products of 

 the whale are applied to other purposes by the inhabitants 

 of the Arctic Regions. Some membranes of the abdomen 

 are used for the upper articles of clothing, and the perito- 



