By Chester S. Howland, New Bedford, Mass. Howland was an author of books on whales. "Catchalot" in French means Sperm Whale. The object of the game is to move your peg into the whale - a reference to the chase of small boats in the 19th century in search of whales. The directions says there are 10 pegs on each - 5 red and 5 green. The board is made of wood and printed in green and red.