{Whale.}
Whales are very numerous, on the Coast of North Carolina,
from which they make Oil, Bone, &c. to
The great Advantage of those
inhabiting the Sand-Banks, along the Ocean, where these Whales come ashore,
none being struck or kill'd with a Harpoon in this Place,
as they are to the Northward, and elsewhere; all those Fish being found dead
on the Shoar, most commonly by those that inhabit the Banks, and Sea-side,
where they dwell, for that Intent, and for the Benefit of Wrecks,
which sometimes fall in upon that Shoar.
Of these Monsters there are four sorts; the first, which is most
choice and rich, is the Sperma Caeti Whale, from which the Sperma Caeti
is taken. These are rich Prizes; but I never heard but of one found
on this Coast, which was near Currituck-Inlet.
The other sorts are of a prodigious Bigness. Of these the Bone and Oil
is made; the Oil being the Blubber, or oily Flesh, or Fat of that Fish boil'd.
These differ not only in Colour, some being pied, others not,
but very much in shape, one being call'd a Bottle-Nosed Whale,
the other a Shovel-Nose, which is as different as a Salmon from a Sturgeon.
These Fish seldom come ashoar with their Tongues in their Heads,
the Thrasher (which is the Whale's mortal Enemy, wheresoever he meets him)
eating that out of his Head, as soon as he and the Sword-Fish have kill'd him.
For when the Whale-catchers (in other Parts) kill any of these Fish,
they eat the Tongue, and esteem it an excellent Dish.
There is another sort of these Whales, or great Fish,
though not common. I never knew of above one of that sort,
found on the Coast of North Carolina, and he was contrary, in Shape,
to all others ever found before him; being sixty Foot in Length,
and not above three or four Foot Diameter. Some Indians in America
will go out to Sea, and get upon a Whales Back, and peg or plug up his Spouts,
and so kill him.
{Thrashers.}
The Thrashers are large Fish, and mortal Enemies to the Whale,
as I said before. They make good Oil; but are seldom found.
{Divel-Fish.}
The Divel-Fish lies at some of our Inlets, and, as near as I can describe him,
is shap'd like a Scate, or Stingray; only he has on his Head
a Pair of very thick strong Horns, and is of a monstrous Size, and Strength;
for this Fish has been known to weigh a Sloop's Anchor,
and run with the Vessel a League or two, and bring her back, against Tide,
to almost the same Place. Doubtless, they may afford good Oil;
but I have no Experience of any Profits which arise from them.
{Sword-Fish.}
The Sword-Fish is the other of the Whale's Enemies, and joins
with the Thrasher to destroy that Monster. After they have overcome him,
they eat his Tongue, as I said before, and the Whale drives ashoar.
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