39 
CHAPTER III. 
SWIMMING, 
Notwithstanding his enormous size, we find that the 
sperm whale has the power of moving through the water 
with the greatest ease, and with considerable velo- 
city. When undisturbed, he passes tranquilly along just 
below the surface of the water, at the rate of about three 
or four miles an hour, which progress he effects by a 
gentle oblique motion from side to side of the u flukes,” 
precisely in the same manner as a boat is skulled by 
means of an oar over the stern. When proceeding at 
this his common rate, his body lies horizontally, his 
“ hump ” projecting above the surface (see cut, p. 33, 
fig. 3), with the water a little disturbed around it, and 
more or less according to his velocity. This disturbed 
water is called by whalers “ white water/’ and from the 
greater or less quantity of it, an experienced whaler can 
judge very accurately of the rate at which the whale is 
going, from a distance even of four or five miles. 
In this mode of swimming, the whale is able to attain 
a velocity of about seven miles an hour ; but when 
desirous of proceeding at a greater rate, the action of 
the tail is materially altered,— instead of being moved 
