Whale

[AS.] A large swimming animal. The boat, and the whale pulls it so swiftly that the men are obliged to pour water over it to prevent setting the wood on fire. When once a harpoon has pierced a whale, it can only be got out by cutting the flesh. A dying whale often struggles so fiercely that it is dangerous for a boat to be near it. The bomb-lance and gun now used in killing whales are safer and more expeditious. The sperm whale {q. v.) has very sharp teeth in its lower jaw, with which it can crush a boat. One monster actually destroyed nine boats. Its jaw is 16 feet long, 7 or 8 broad, and about 10 in height. The thrasher, a large and voracious shark with a long upper lobe on its tail, often beats or fights the whale. The Green land whale, the rorqual, and one or two other kinds, have whalebone instead of teeth. The whalebone, of which there are 360 plates or pieces in one animal, is fastened to the upper jaw of the mouth, and hangs down. Fach piece is from 10 to 14 feet in length, and is 11 inches broad at the root; and one whale yields one or two tons of whale¬ bone. The blubber or inner skin, which con¬ tains the oil, may be 16 inches thick, and a large whale may yield 275 barrels of oil. The throat