The narwhal is distinguished in the water from the White whale by its darker colour, its white spots and its horn. The colour becomes lighter with age, so that very old individuals become dirty white. According to the Eskimos, the horn is confined to the males, and its chief use is for domestic battle. Only one horn is usually developed, growing out of the upper jaw, and projecting directly forward. A second horn on the other side of the jaw is not uncommon, but it is always shorter, and is often malformed or rudimentary. The horns vary in length up to eight feet, and are composed of a very fine quality of ivory. At the base the average thickness is from two to three inches; it tapers gradually to a point, having a spiral twist throughout the length. There is a large pith core at the base, which gradually fills after the horn has reached maturity, so that in old animals the horn is almost completely solid. This ivory is much more valuable than that obtained from the tusks of the walrus, being worth from $2.50 to $3 a pound. The ultimate destination of the ivory is China, where it is used for ornamental purposes as well as for medicine, and for the manufacture of cups supposed to absorb all poisons placed in them.
The flesh and skin of the narwhal are put to the same uses by the Eskimos as those of the White whale.
Tabulated Statement of information concerning the Whale Fishery in Baffin bay and in Hudson bay.
BRITISH WHALING FLEET.[*]
| Year. | Steamer. | Sail. | Whales. | Oil. | Bone. |
| Tons. | Cwt. | ||||
| 1865 | 11 | 12 | 66 | 742 | 710 |
| 1866 | 15 | 11 | 81 | 848 | 933 |
| 1867 | 17 | 11 | 24 | 228 | 60 |
| 1868 | 18 | 12 | 134 | 1,228 | 1,164 |
| 1869 | 16 | 10 | 22 | 266 | 207 |
| 1870 | 14 | 8 | 79 | 962 | 1,111 |
| 1871 | 15 | 6 | 152 | 1,348 | 1,544 |
| 1872 | 17 | 5 | 138 | 1,393 | 1,486 |
| 1873 | 18 | 4 | 172 | 1,426 | 1,475 |
| 1874 | 16 | 3 | 190 | 1,662 | 1,680 |
| 1875 | 18 | 2 | 98 | 975 | 970 |
| 1876 | 17 | 3 | 82 | 1,115 | 1,132 |
| 1877 | 13 | .... | 81 | 955 | 850 |
| 1881 | 11 | .... | 48 | 514 | 495 |
| 1882 | 9 | .... | 79 | 670 | 560 |
| 1883 | 6 | .... | 17 | 524 | 190 |
| 1884 | 9 | .... | 79 | 755 | 780 |
| 1885 | 12 | .... | 28 | 359 | 200 |
| 1886 | 8 | .... | 15 | 375 | 240 |
| 1887 | 8 | .... | .. | 496 | 140 |
| 1888 | 7 | .... | 6 | 308 | 43 |
| 1889 | 3 | .... | 8 | 125 | 110 |
| 1890 | 5 | .... | 11 | 403 | 265 |
| 1891 | 5 | .... | 6 | 167 | 70 |
| 1892 | 5 | .... | 7 | 228 | 78 |
| 1893 | 4 | .... | 30 | 391 | 410 |
| 1894 | 5 | .... | 15 | 218 | 250 |
| 1895 | 5 | .... | 3 | 233 | 36 |
| 1896 | 3 | .... | 3 | 60 | 15 |
| 1897 | 3 | .... | 8 | 102 | 110 |
| 1898 | 4 | .... | 8 | 235 | 100 |
| 1899 | 7 | .... | 26 | 419 | 330 |
| 1900 | 7 | .... | 17 | 290 | 230 |
| 1901 | 6 | .... | 15 | 260 | 164 |
| 1902 | 6 | .... | 13 | 212 | 187 |
| 1903 | 6 | .... | 14 | 145 | 175 |
| 1904 | 6 | .... | 11 | 110 | 107 |
| [*] | The returns from 1865 to 1877, inclusive, are from the Report of the U. S. Consul at Dundee, 1877. The returns from 1881 to 1904 have been furnished by Captain W. F. Milne, of the British whaler Eclipse. |
AMERICAN WHALING FLEET.
1846-52—One ship yearly to Cumberland gulf. 350 tons oil and 2·5 tons bone.