CETACEA. 



Dangers of the Whale Fishery. 



large hole is made in the top of his head, and the spermaceti is baled out in buckets, to the amount of 

 several hogsheads. The layer of blubber on this animal is thin, but yields a fine and valuable oil. 

 Ambergris, once used as a medicine, but now only as a perfume, is a diseased secretion from the intestines 

 of this animal. The Cachalot is about seventy feet long, and inhabits the arctic sea, though sometimes 

 it is found on the coasts of Europe. 



The pursuit of the Whale was practised by the Norwegians in the ninth century, though of the manner 

 we know nothing The first who undertook it for commercial ends, appear to have been the borderers of 

 the Bay of Biscay, who found the animal in their neighborhood. The creature they chased, however, was 

 probably diffeient from, and smaller than the arctic species, and seems to have been captured chiefly for its 

 flesh, then an article of food Finally, the Whales ceased to visit their bay, and they gradually sought 

 them farther and farther off, till they reached the Newfoundland, Iceland, and Greenland coasts. Thus, 

 in the sixteenth century, commenced the northern Whale fishery, and it has ever since been pursued. 



The first English Whaling voyage was in 1594, and the Dutch commenced the business at about the 

 same date. The Hamburghers, French, and Danes soon followed. At present, from various causes, the 

 English, Americans. Hamburghers, and Prussians send forth nearly all the whalers. 



The Whale ships, which are generally from three to four 

 hundred tons burden, commence fishing in May, or in very 

 good seasons, in April, and the close of the season takes 

 place between early August and late September, according 

 to the nature of the season. As recently as 1820, most 

 Whale ships plied at the east of Greenland, but now those 

 waters are nearly exhausted of their fish. At present, 

 Cachalot, or Spermaceti whale therefore, most ships steer directly for Baffin's Bay, west 



'161) 



