SHIPS ATTACKED BY WHALES 



called the death flurry and dashes wildly about in 

 every direction. If a ship or boat happens to be near 

 it stands an excellent chance of being rammed, for 

 the animal is utterly blind in its rushes. 



The sperm is an exception to the rule of purely ac- 

 cidental attacks, however, for there are many well 

 authenticated instances of whales of this species, wliile 



~~ T--V --I- ;; 



The spout of a finback whale. The column of vapor rises to a 

 height of about twenty feet. 



only slightly wounded and not in the death flurry, 

 deliberately sinking boats and even three-hundred- or 

 four-hundred-ton vessels. 



Almost every deep-sea whaleman has stories to tell 

 of "rogue" sperms, which are usually old bulls that 

 have sought a solitary life either from choice or ostra- 

 cism from the main herd. Such animals are often vi- 



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