125 
usually measuring from three to 12 or 
15 feet long; of these there are gene¬ 
rally 250 on each side, which are fit for 
use. When the longest of these laminae 
reaches six feet, the whale is called a 
payable or size fish; for every one of 
which that is caught, the captain gene¬ 
rally gets three guineas, the surgeon one, 
the carpenter one, &c. The whalebone 
is covered with long hair like that of a 
horse, which not only preserves the 
tongue from being hurt, but prevents 
their food from being returned when they 
eject the water from their mouths. The 
throat is not more than three or four 
inches wide; eyes and ears small. In 
the middle of the head are two orifices, 
commonly called Mow holes , through which 
they eject water to a great height. No 
dorsal fin ; a large one under each eye. 
Body tapers gradually towards the tail, 
which is often above 20 feet broad, semi- 
Iti&ar, and horizontal in respect to the 
