IX THE SEA 345 



come to the rescue. In one case, indeed, an 

 American ship was actually attacked, stove 

 in, and sunk by a gigantic male Cachalot. 



The Great Roqual is still more formidable, 

 and has been said to attain a length of 120 

 feet, but this is probably an exaggeration. 

 So far as we know, the largest species of all 

 is Simmond's Whale, which reaches a maxi- 

 mum of 85 to 90 feet. 



In former times Whales were frequent on 

 our coasts, so that, as Bishop Pontoppidan 

 said, the sea sometimes appeared as if covered 

 with smoking chimneys, but they have been 

 gradually driven further and further north, 

 and are still becoming rarer. As they re- 

 treated man followed, and to them we owe 

 much of our progress in geography. Is it 

 not, however, worth considering whether they 

 might not also be allowed a " truce of God," 

 whether some part of the ocean might not be 

 allotted to them where they might be allowed 

 to breed in peace ? As a mere mercantile 

 arrangement the maritime nations would prob- 

 ably find this very remunerative. The reck- 

 less slaughter of Whales, Sea Elephants, Seals, 



