92 THE COMMON WHALE. 



land ; and this is so far true ; but, on examination, 

 it is found not to be tbe mysticetus, but the rorqual, 

 which comes next under our review, and we are dis- 

 posed to think, that " the bodies of whales" will be 

 found to belong to this species, which, we shall pre- 

 sently 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 eco- 

 nomy of uncivilized nations. 



Although, to the palate of the refined European, 

 the flesh of this whale would be viewed with ab- 

 horrence as an article of food ; yet by some of the 

 inhabitants of the borders 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 spiritous liquor, carry along 

 with them in their canoes, bladders filled with oil, 

 tvhicli 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 saw, 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 unsavoury, but even agreeable eat- 

 ing ; and the flesh of young whales is by no means 

 indifferent food. 



Besides forming a choice eatable, the inferior pro- 

 ducts of the whale are applied to other purposes by 



