WHALE HUNTING WITH GUN AND CAMERA 



considerable depth, and each man will give numer- 

 ous instances, similar to the one I have cited in the 

 case of the blue whale, to prove his point. Until 

 further information is available this subject must be 

 an open one. A smooth, circular patch of water is 

 always left at the spot where a large whale dives. 

 This is undoubtedly produced by suction and inter- 

 rupted wave action but has given rise to many in- 

 genious and absurd theories in explanation. 



When studying whales the most important fact to 

 remember is that they are one-time land mammals 

 which have taken up a life in the ivatcr and that 

 their bodily activities, although somewhat modified, 

 are nevertheless essentially the same as those of a 

 horse, cow, or any other land mammal. 



Since a whale breathes air, when it is below the 

 surface the breath must be held, for if water should 

 be taken into the lungs the animal would drown. 

 Thus, as soon as a cetacean comes to the surface its 

 breath is expelled and a fresh supply inhaled before 

 it again goes dow r n, just as in the case of a man when 

 diving. However a whale is able to hold its breath 

 for a much longer time than can an ordinary land 

 mammal even as much as forty-five minutes or an 

 hour. 



When the animal comes to the surface the breath 

 which has been contained in the lungs under pressure 

 is highly heated, and as it is forcibly expelled into 

 the colder outer air it condenses, forming a column 

 of steam or vapor. A similar effect may be pro- 

 duced by any person if, on a frosty morning, the 



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