The Propulsive Powers of Blue and Fin Whales

Abstract

1. If the flow of water over the body of a Blue or a Fin whale be free from turbulence, the horse-power required per lb. of locomotory muscle is of the order of a tenth of the value estimated by Gray (1936) for the porpoise and dolphin. 2. If the flow be turbulent in these large whales the horse-power required per lb. of muscle agrees closely with Gray's estimate for the smaller Cetacea, or for the other types of mammalian muscle that have been investigated.