250 THE OCEAN. 
tortions arise from battles between old “bull whales;’ 
they rush upon each other with great fury, their 
mouths wide open, each endeavouring to seize his 
adversary by the lower jaw. In this manner they 
often become locked together by the jaws, and then 
struggling with all their gigantic power, the contest 
frequently terminates in the dislocation or fracture 
of the jaw. The teeth are not used for chewing, the 
prey being swallowed entire. 
In the chase and capture of this immense creature, 
as might be expected from the peculiarities of its 
habits, there are several circumstances that distin- 
guish it from the Greenland whale-fishery, while, 
at the same time, there is a general resemblance. 
Ships of three or. four hundred tons are selected 
for the voyage, strongly built, manned with a crew 
of about thirty hands, and provisioned for four years. 
A watch is stationed aloft immediately on leaving the 
Channel, although the Sperm Whale is rarely seen in 
the Atlantic north of the equator. The look-out on 
the mast-head is never interrupted during the voyage, 
or until the cargo is completed, the men on this duty 
being relieved in succession. Ona Sperm Whale 
being perceived, the intelligence is communicated by 
the watch calling out aloud in a peculiar tone, “There 
she spouts!” a cry which fails not to produce a gene- 
ral rush on deck of all hands. The captain eagerly 
asks, “Whereaway?” The position of the prey is 
pointed out, while at every fresh spouting the watch, 
accompanied by every individual on board who has 
caught sight of the object, vociferates, “There again!” 
When the spoutings are out, and the Whale descends, 
