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THE

MARINE MAMMALS

OF THE

NORTH-WESTERN COAST OF NORTH AMERICA,

DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED:

TOGETHER WITH AN ACCOUNT OF

THE AMERICAN WHALE-FISHERY.

BY

CHARLES M. SCAMMON,

CAPTAIN U. S. REVENUE MARINE.

SAN FRANCISCO:

JOHN H. CARMANY AND COMPANY.

NEW YORK: G P. PUTNAM'S SONS.
1874.

Contents  Illustrations  Charles M. Scammon, (1825-1911)  Source

JOHN H. CARMANY & CO., PRINTERS,
      409 Washington Street, San Francisco

CONTENTS.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PREFACE.

      Being on the coast of California in 1852, when the "gold-fever" raged, the force of circumstances compelled me to take command of a brig, bound on a sealing, sea-elephant, and whaling voyage, or abandon sea-life, at least temporarily. The objects of our pursuit were found in great numbers, and the opportunities for studying their habits were so good, that I became greatly interested in collecting facts bearing upon the natural history of these animals. Reference to the few books devoted to the subject soon convinced me that I was at work in a department in which but little definite knowledge existed. This was true even of the whales, the best known of this class; and I was soon led to believe that, by diligent observation, I should be able to add materially to the scanty stock of information existing in regard to the marine mammals of the Pacific Coast. I was the more encouraged to pursue these investigations, because, among the great number of intelligent men in command of whaling-ships, there was no one who had contributed anything of importance to the natural history of the Cetaceans; while it was obvious that the opportunities offered for the study of their habits, to those practically engaged in the business of whaling, were greater than could possibly be enjoyed by persons not thus employed.

      The chief object in this work is to give as correct figures of the different species of marine mammals, found on the Pacific Coast of North America, as could be obtained from a careful study of them from life, and numerous measurements after death, made whenever practicable. It is also my aim to give as full an account of the habits of these animals as practicable, together with such facts in reference to their geographical distribution as have come to my knowledge.

      It is hardly necessary to say, that any person taking up the study of marine mammals, and especially the Cetaceans, enters a difficult field of research, since the

opportunities for observing the habits of these animals under favorable conditions are but rare and brief. My own experience has proved that close observation for months, and even years, may be required before a single new fact in regard to their habits can be obtained. This has been particularly the case with the dolphins, while many of the characteristic actions of whales are so secretly performed that years of ordinary observation may be insufficient for their discovery.

      There is little difficulty in making satisfactory drawings of such smaller species of marine mammals as can be taken upon the deck of a vessel, but it is extremely difficult to delineate accurately the forms of the larger Cetaceans. When one of these animals is first captured, but a small part of its colossal form can be seen, as, usually, only a small portion of the middle section of the body is above the water; and when the process of decomposition has caused the animal to rise, so that the whole form is visible, it is swollen and quite distorted in shape. Again: these animals change their appearance in the most remarkable manner with every change of position, so that it is only from repeated measurements and sketches, and as the result of many comparisons, that I have been able to produce satisfactory illustrations of these monsters of the deep.

      I take occasion here to acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. Rey, of the firm of Britton & Rey, lithographers, who laid aside his own business, as far as possible, in order that he might give his personal attention to the execution of nearly all the plates representing whales and seals. The remaining work of that description was put into the hands of Mr. Steinegger, the junior partner of the firm; his excellent sea and landscape backgrounds speak for themselves.

      Plain and simple language has been used in description. Where whaling terms have been employed, their definitions are indicated by reference marks, or may be found in the glossary contained in the Appendix.

      I desire to tender my sincere thanks to many personal friends and others, not only for literary, but also for financial aid; for, without the generous contributions of gentlemen of the Pacific Coast, and San Francisco especially, this work could not have made its appearance in its present form.

      To Professor J. D. Whitney, State Geologist of California, I wish particularly to acknowledge my indebtedness for his encouragement and untiring assistance in preparing this volume for the press. My thanks are also due to Professor S. F.

Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution; Professor George Davidson, of the United States Coast Survey; Doctor W. O. Ayres, of San Francisco; Doctor Theodore Gill, of Washington; Mr. J. A. Allen, of Cambridge; Mr. R. E. C. Stearns, of San Francisco; Mr. Albert Bierstadt, of Irvington, N. Y.; Mr. W. H. Dall, of the Smithsonian Institution; and to Doctor George Hewston, of San Francisco, for special assistance. Also, to Mr. F. C. Sanford, of Nantucket, Mass.; Messrs. Williams and Chapel, of the firm of Williams, Havens & Co., New London, Conn.; and Dennis Wood, Esq., of New Bedford, for valuable statistics relative to the whale-fishery.

      It is with pleasure that I also mention the assistance I have received from officers of the United States Revenue Marine, in making scientific collections for the study of whales and seals, and in furnishing specimens for the National Museum at Washington. I would particularly mention Lieutenants George W. Bailey, W. C. Coulson, G. E. McConnell, and Engineers J. A. Doyle and H. Hassel.

      The account of the American Whale-fishery has been compiled from the most reliable sources within reach, and from the experience of many whalemen with whom I was associated for several years, while in active service on the principal whaling-grounds then frequented. I have also attempted to give a chronological account of the rise, progress, and decline of our great national maritime enterprise, the whale-fishery; and to make the picture complete, a few pages have been devoted to a description of the every-day life of a whaleman, his characteristic traits, and the incidents that make up the routine of a whaling-voyage.

      The "Catalogue of the Cetacea" appended to this work has been drawn up with great care by Mr. W. H. Dall, who has taken pains to do the work as thoroughly as circumstances would permit; and as I have assisted him with my personal knowledge of those species which are of rare occurrence on this coast, and placed in his hands all my notes and collections, I trust that his paper will be found of great assistance to the professional naturalist. As Mr. Dall remarks, however, "Completeness is not claimed for this list. In fact, it can hardly be attained for a considerable period, when the difficulties and expense connected with these researches are appreciated." Only two species of Cetaceans have been added to the list of those mentioned as not being represented by "material sufficient to indicate their zoological position;" and these were not known to Mr. Dall at the time he was preparing his list.

      The volume now presented to the public has been put together from materials which have accumulated during many years. At sea, when not occupied with official duties, amid calms and storms, I have devoted myself to its preparation; and it is hoped that the public may find in these results of prolonged labor something of the profit and pleasure with which the author has been rewarded while occupied in their collection and elaboration.

PART I.

CETACEA

PART I. – CETACEA.

INTRODUCTION.

      The order of Cetacea, as established by naturalists, includes all species of mammalia which have been created for inhabiting the water only; and although their forms bear a strong resemblance to those of the ordinary piscatory tribe, still they are animals having warm blood, breathing by means of lungs, and frequently coming to the surface of the water to respire. In nearly all Cetaceans, the nostrils – termed spiracles or spout-holes – are situated on the top of the head. Through these the thick vaporous breath is ejected into the atmosphere to various altitudes, according to the nature of the animal in this particular respect; and through the same orifices a fresh supply of air is received into its breathing system. Although the Cetaceans are strictly regarded as mammals, they have no true feet; their pectorals being in the form of heavy, bony, and sinewy fins, while the posterior extremity of the body terminates in a broad cartilaginous limb of semi-lunar shape, frequently termed the caudal fin or tail, but known among whalemen as the "flukes," the lobes of which extend horizontally.

      The different species of Cetaceans are numerous; hence they have been divided into groups, the most prominent of which are the Whalebone Whales, the Cachalots or Sperm Whales, and the Dolphins. The group of Balaenidae, or Whalebone Whales, embraces all those which are destitute of teeth when adult, and whose palate is lined on each side with rows of horny plates, called whalebone or baleen, which are fringed on their inner edges. This part of the animal's organization is peculiarly adapted to the nature of its food, which consists of zoöphytes, mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish. The group of Sperm Whales comprises those with inordinately massive heads, whose upper jaw has only rudimentary teeth, or none at all; whose lower jaw is narrow, rounded toward its anterior extremity, elongated and filling the furrow in the upper one, and furnished on each side with a row of heavy conical teeth, with which to procure and devour the enormous cuttle-fish

or squid upon which they prey. The group of Dolphins is made up of those comprised in the Linnaean genus Delphinus, and others, whose heads preserve the usual proportion to the body, and whose upper and lower jaws are set with sharp and usually conical teeth. They are the most active and rapacious of the whole order of Cetaceans.

      All Cetaceans produce their young in nearly the same manner as other mammals. The male is commonly called a bull; the female a cow. The attitude of the two sexes when having intercourse with each other has been differently represented by numerous observers. Some maintain that the male covers the female; while others are positive of their lying on their sides breast to breast, or assuming a perpendicular position. From personal observation, however, we are justified in stating that all are correct. In fact, it may readily be seen that, with their united efforts, it is easy for the animals to sustain any desired position in their native element, during the period of coition. The time of gestation is not known; but from our observations we believe it is never less than nine months, and that in some species it extends to one year. The offspring of the female is called her calf; she nourishes it with rich milk drawn from two teats which lie on each side of her abdomen.

      All Cetaceans are destitute of the hair or fur which protects the surface of other marine mammals, and instead thereof the dermis is covered by a smooth and transparent scarf-skin. Under the dermis is the thick layer of fat, or "blubber," which infolds the whole creature, whose flesh is dark and sinewy, resembling coarse beef. The natural term of life in Cetaceans can only be approximately determined; it is probably from thirty to a hundred years. The new-born young are clothed in fatless blubber with a thick dermis, and over all is a delicate cuticle. The calf, or "cub," follows the dam for several months – perhaps a year with some species – and during that time draws its chief sustenance from the mother. As her charge matures, its blubber thickens and becomes fat, the dermis becomes thinner but more compact, and the cuticle strengthens and presents a lively glossiness.

      Among the Balaenidae, the baleen with its fringes grows rapidly, and hardens as it matures. As old age comes on, the fringes to these horny plates become decayed and broken, and in some instances the baleen falls out. The thick blubber, once filled with oil, becomes thin and watery, and, for want of proper sustenance, the animal yields to the course of Nature and dies. Among the Physeteridae, the teeth of the young are sharp and perfect when first developed; but they become more or less broken and worn with age: as years advance, they either fall out or are reduced to a level with the gums, and, like the Balaenidae, being deprived of the

natural means of obtaining food, the animals become emaciated, and at last expire. The same may be said of the Dephinidae or Dolphins.

      All the Cetaceans propel themselves through the water by the action of their pectorals and caudal fin, and the individual motions of the various species are similar. Usually a small portion of the animal is seen rippling along as it makes its respiration, then, after a few moments, settling below the surface, it again appears in the same manner. When descending to the depths below, it rises a little, as in

figure 1; then pitching headlong, "rounds out," as in figure 2; then "turning

flukes," as in figure 3, disappears. Thus these animals wander through the track-

less waters in their migrations; or, when roving about at leisure on their feeding or breeding grounds, they are sometimes seen in various attitudes, which will be mentioned hereafter.

CHAPTER I.

THE CALIFORNIA GRAY WHALE.

      The California Gray is unlike other species of baleen whales in color, being of a mottled gray, very light in some individuals, while others, both male and female, are nearly black. The head and jaws are curved downward from near the spiracles to the "nib-end," or extremity of the snout, and the lateral form tapers to a ponderous beak. Under the throat are two longitudinal folds, which are about fifteen inches apart and six feet in length. The eye, the ball of which is at least four inches in diameter, is situated about five inches above and six inches behind the angle of the mouth. The ear, which appears externally like a mere slit in the skin, two and one-half inches in length, is about eighteen inches behind the eye, and a little above it. The length of the female is from forty to forty-four feet,^* the fully grown varying but little in size; its greatest circumference, twenty-eight to thirty feet; its flukes, thirty inches in depth, and ten to twelve feet broad. It has no dorsal fin. Its pectorals are about six and one-half feet in length, and three feet in width, tapering from near the middle toward the ends, which are quite pointed. Usually the limbs of the animal vary but little in proportion to its size.

      The following measurements give the correct proportions of several males taken in the Bay of Monterey, California, since 1865:

      Four other individuals, ranging from thirty-five to forty feet, were measured, the result of which showed corresponding proportions, or nearly so.

      The animal has a succession of ridges, crosswise along the back, from opposite the vent to the flukes. The coating of fat, or blubber, which possesses great solidity and is exceedingly sinewy and tough, varies from six to ten inches in thickness, and is of a reddish cast. The average yield of oil is twenty barrels. The baleen, of which the longest portion is fourteen to sixteen inches, is of a light brown or nearly white, the grain very coarse, and the hair or fringe on the bone is much heavier and not so even as that of the Right Whale or Humpback. The male may average thirty-five feet in length, but varies more in size than the female, and the usual quantity of oil it produces may be reckoned at twenty-five barrels. Both sexes are infested with parasitical crustaceans (Cyamus Scammoni), and a species of barnacle (Cryptolepas rhachianecti), which collect chiefly upon the head and fins.^*

      The California Gray Whale is only found in north latitudes, and its migrations have never been known to extend lower than 20° north. It frequents the coast of California from November to May. During these months the cows enter the lagoons on the lower coast to bring forth their young,^* while the males remain outside

along the sea-shore. The time of gestation is about one year.^* Occasionally a male is seen in the lagoons with the cows at the last of the season, and soon after both male and female, with their young, will be seen working their way northward, following the shore so near that they often pass through the kelp near the beach. It is seldom they are seen far out at sea. This habit of resorting to shoal bays is one in which they differ strikingly from other whales. In summer they congregate in the Arctic Ocean and Okhotsk Sea. It has been said that this species of whale has been found on the coast of China and about the shores of the island of Formosa, but the report needs confirmation.

      In October and November the California Grays appear off the coast of Oregon and Upper California, on their way back to their tropical haunts, making a quick, low spout at long intervals; showing themselves but very little until they reach the smooth lagoons of the lower coast, where, if not disturbed, they gather in large numbers,^† passing and repassing into and out of the estuaries, or slowly raising their colossal forms midway above the surface, falling over on their sides as if by

accident, and dashing the water into foam and spray about them. At times, in calm weather, they are seen lying on the water quite motionless, keeping one position for an hour or more. At such times the sea-gulls and cormorants frequently alight upon the huge beasts. The first season in Scammon's Lagoon, coast of Lower California, the boats were lowered several times for them, we thinking that the animals when in that position were dead or sleeping, but before the boats arrived within even shooting distance they were on the move again.

      About the shoals at the mouth of one of the lagoons, in 1860, we saw large numbers of the monsters. It was at the low stage of the tide, and the shoal places were plainly marked by the constantly foaming breakers. To our surprise we saw many of the whales going through the surf where the depth of water was barely sufficient to float them. We could discern in many places, by the white sand that came to the surface, that they must be near or touching the bottom. One in particular, lay for a half-hour in the breakers, playing, as seals often do in a heavy surf; turning from side to side with half-extended fins, and moved apparently by the heavy ground-swell which was breaking; at times making a playful spring with its bending flukes, throwing its body clear of the water, coming down with a heavy splash, then making two or three spouts, and again settling under water; perhaps the next moment its head would appear, and with the heavy swell the animal would roll over in a listless manner, to all appearance enjoying the sport intensely. We passed close to this sportive animal, and had only thirteen feet of water.

      The habits of the Gray have brought upon it many significant names, among which the most prominent are, "Hard-head," "Mussel-digger," "Devil-fish," "Gray-back," and "Rip-sack." The first-mentioned misnomer arose from the fact of the animals having a great propensity to root the boats when coming in contact with them, in the same manner that hogs upset their empty troughs. Moreover, they are known to descend to soft bottoms in search of food, or for other purposes; and, when returning to the surface, they have been seen with head and lips besmeared with the dark ooze from the depths below;^* hence the name of

"Mussel-digger." "Devil-fish" is significant of the danger incurred in the pursuit of the animal. "Gray-back" is indicative of its color, and "Rip-sack" originated with the manner of flensing.

      As the season approaches for the whales to bring forth their young, which is from December to March, they formerly collected at the most remote extremities of the lagoons, and huddled together so thickly that it was difficult for a boat to cross the waters without coming in contact with them. Repeated instances have been known of their getting aground and lying for several hours in but two or three feet of water, without apparent injury from resting heavily on the sandy bottom, until the rising tide floated them. In the Bay of Monterey they have been seen rolling, with apparent delight, in the breakers along the beach.

      In February, 1856, we found two whales aground in Magdalena Bay. Each had a calf playing about, there being sufficient depth for the young ones, while the mothers were lying hard on the bottom. When attacked, the smaller of the two old whales lay motionless, and the boat approached near enough to "set" the hand-lance into her "life," dispatching the animal at a single dart. The other, when approached, would raise her head and flukes above the water, supporting herself on a small portion of the belly, turning easily, and heading toward the boat, which made it very difficult to capture her. It appears to be their habit to get into the shallowest inland waters when their cubs are young. For this reason the whaling-ships anchor at a considerable distance from where the crews go to hunt the animals, and several vessels are often in the same lagoon.

      The first streak of dawn is the signal for lowering the boats, all pulling for the head-waters, where the whales are expected to be found. As soon as one is seen, the officer who first discovers it sets a "waif" (a small flag) in his boat, and gives chase. Boats belonging to other vessels do not interfere, but go in search of other whales. When pursuing, great care is taken to keep behind, and a short distance from the animal, until it is driven to the extremity of the lagoon, or into shoal water; then the men in the nearest boats spring to their oars in the exciting race, and the animal, swimming so near the bottom, has its progress impeded, thereby giving its pursuers a decided advantage: although occasionally it will suddenly change its course, or "dodge," which frequently prolongs the chase for hours,

the boats cutting through the water at their utmost speed. At other times, when the cub is young and weak, the movements of the mother are sympathetically suited to the necessities of her dependent offspring. It is rare that the dam will forsake her young one, when molested. When within "darting distance" (sixteen or eighteen feet), the boat-steerer darts the harpoons, and if the whale is struck it dashes about, lashing the water into foam, oftentimes staving the boats. As soon as the boat is fast, the officer goes into the head,^* and watches a favorable opportunity to shoot a bomb-lance. Should this enter a vital part and explode, it kills instantly, but it is not often this good luck occurs; more frequently two or three bombs are shot, which paralyze the animal to some extent, when the boat is hauled near enough to use the hand-lance. After repeated thrusts, the whale becomes sluggish in its motions; then, going "close to," the hand-lance is set into its "life," which completes the capture. The animal rolls over on its side, with fins extended, and dies without a struggle. Sometimes it will circle around within a small compass, or take a zigzag course, heaving its head and flukes above the water, and will either roll over, "fin out," or die under water and sink to the bottom.

      Thus far we have spoken principally of the females, as they are found in the lagoons. Mention has been made, however, of that general habit, common to both male and female, of keeping near the shore in making the passage between their northern and southern feeding-grounds. This fact becoming known, and the bomb gun^† coming into use, the mode of capture along the outer coast was changed. The whaling parties first stationed themselves in their boats at the most favorable points, where the thickest beds of kelp were found, and there lay in wait watching for a good chance to shoot the whales as they passed. This was called "kelp whaling."

      The first year or two that this pursuit was practiced, many of the animals

passed through or along the edge of the kelp, where the gunners chose their own distance for a shot. This method, however, soon excited the suspicious of these sagacious creatures. At first, the ordinary whale-boat was used, but the keen-eyed "Devil-fish" soon found what would be the consequence of getting too near the long, dark-looking object, as it lay nearly motionless, only rising and falling with the rolling swell. A very small boat – with one man to scull and another to shoot – was then used, instead of the whale-boat. This proved successful for a time, but, after a few successive seasons, the animals passed farther seaward, and at the present time the boats usually anchor outside the kelp. The mottled fish being seen approaching far enough off for the experienced gunner to judge nearly where the animal will "break water," the boat is sculled to that place, to await the "rising." If the whale "shows a good chance," it is frequently killed instantly, and sinks to the bottom, or receives its death-wound by the bursting of the bomb-lance. Consequently, the stationary position or slow movement of the animal enables the whaler to get a harpoon into it before sinking. To the harpoon a line is attached, with a buoy, which indicates the place where the dead creature lies, should it go to the bottom. Then, in the course of twenty-four hours, or in less time, it rises to the surface, and is towed to the shore, the blubber taken off and tried out in pots set for that purpose upon the beach.

      Another mode of capture is by ships cruising off the land and sending their boats inshore toward the line of kelp; and, as the whales work to the southward, the boats, being provided with extra large sails, the whalemen take advantage of the strong northerly winds, and, running before the breeze, sail near enough to be able to dart the hand-harpoon into the fish. "Getting fast" in this way, it is killed in deep water, and, if inclined to sink, it can be held up by the boats till the ship comes up, when a large "fluke-rope" is made fast, or the "fin-chain" is secured to one fin, the "cutting-tackle" hooked, and the whale "cut in" immediately. This mode is called "sailing them down." Still another way of catching them is with "Greener's Harpoon Gun," which is similar to a small swivel-gun. It is of one and a half inch bore, three feet long in the barrel, and, when stocked, weighs seventy-five pounds. The harpoon, four feet and a half long, is projected with considerable accuracy to any distance under eighty-four yards. The gun is mounted on the bow of the boat. A variety of manoeuvres are practiced when using the weapon: at times the boat lying at anchor, and, again, drifting about for a chance-shot. When the animal is judged to be ten fathoms off, the gun is pointed eighteen inches below the back; if fifteen fathoms, eight or ten inches below; if eighteen or twenty fathoms distant, the gun is sighted at the top of its back.

      Still another strategic plan has been practiced with successful results, called "whaling along the breakers." Mention has been already made of the habit which these whales have of playing about the breakers at the mouths of the lagoons. This, the watchful eye of the whaler was quick to see, could be turned to his advantage.

      After years of pursuit by waylaying them around the beds of kelp, the wary animals learned to shun these fatal regions, making a wide deviation in their course to enjoy their sports among the rollers at the lagoons' mouths, as they passed them either way. But the civilized whaler anchors his boats as near the roaring surf as safety will permit, and the unwary "Mussel-digger" that comes in reach of the deadly harpoon, or bomb-lance, is sure to pay the penalty with its life. If it come within darting distance, it is harpooned; and, as the stricken animal makes for the open sea, it is soon in deep water, where the pursuer makes his capture with comparative ease; or if passing within range of the bomb-gun, one of the explosive missiles is planted in its side, which so paralyzes the whale that the fresh boat's-crew, who have been resting at anchor, taking to their oars, soon overtake and dispatch it.

      The casualties from coast and kelp whaling are nothing to be compared with the accidents that have been experienced by those engaged in taking the females in the lagoons. Hardly a day passes but there is upsetting or staving of boats, the crews receiving bruises, cuts, and, in many instances, having limbs broken; and repeated accidents have happened in which men have been instantly killed, or received mortal injury. The reasons of the increased dangers are these: the quick and deviating movements of the animal, its unusual sagacity, and the fact of the sandy bottom being continually stirred by the strong currents, making it difficult to see an object at any considerable depth. When a whale is "struck" at sea, there is generally but little difficulty in keeping clear. When first irritated by the harpoon, it attempts to escape by "running," or descending to the depths below, taking out more or less line, the direction of which, and the movements of the boat, indicate the animal's whereabouts. But in a lagoon, the object of pursuit is in narrow passages, where frequently there is a swift tide, and the turbid water prevents the whaler from seeing far beneath the boat. Should the chase be made with the current, the fugitive sometimes stops suddenly, and the speed of the boat, together with the influence of the running water, shoots it upon the worried animal when it is dashing its flukes in every direction. The whales that are chased have with them their young cubs, and the mother, in her efforts to avoid the pursuit of herself and offspring, may momentarily lose sight of her little one. Instantly she

will stop and "sweep" around in search, and if the boat comes in contact with her, it is quite sure to be staved. Another danger is, that in darting the lance at the mother, the young one, in its gambols, will get in the way of the weapon, and receive the wound, instead of the intended victim. In such instances, the parent animal, in her frenzy, will chase the boats, and, overtaking them, will overturn them with her head, or dash them in pieces with a stroke of her ponderous flukes.

      Sometimes the calf is fastened to instead of the cow. In such instances the mother may have been an old frequenter of the ground, and been before chased, and perhaps have suffered from a previous attack, so that she is far more difficult to capture, staving the boats and escaping after receiving repeated wounds. One instance occurred in Magdalena Lagoon, in 1857, where, after several boats had been staved, they being near the beach, the men in those remaining afloat managed to pick up their swimming comrades, and, in the meantime, to run the line to the shore, hauling the calf into as shallow water as would float the dam, she keeping near her troubled young one, giving the gunner a good chance for a shot with his bomb-gun from the beach. A similar instance occurred in Scammon's Lagoon, in 1859.

      The testimony of many whaling-masters furnishes abundant proof that these whales are possessed of unusual sagacity. Numerous contests with them have proved that, after the loss of their cherished offspring, the enraged animals have given chase to the boats, which only found security by escaping to shoal water or to shore.

      After evading the civilized whaler and his instruments of destruction, and perhaps while they are suffering from wounds received in their southern haunts, these migratory animals begin their northern journey. The mother, with her young grown to half the size of maturity, but wanting in strength, makes the best of her way along the shores, avoiding the rough sea by passing between or near the rocks and islets that stud the points and capes. But scarcely have the poor creatures quitted their southern homes before they are surprised by the Indians about the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver and Queen Charlotte's Islands. Like enemies in ambush, these glide in canoes from island, bluff, or bay, rushing upon their prey with whoop and yell, launching their instruments of torture, and like hounds worrying the last life blood from their vitals. The capture having been effected, trains of canoes tow the prize to shore in triumph. The whalemen among the Indians of the North-west Coast are those who delight in the height of adventure, and who are ambitious of acquiring the greatest reputation among their fellows. Those among them who could boast of killing a whale, formerly had the most exalted mark of

honor conferred upon them by a cut across the nose; but this custom is no longer observed.

      The Indian whaling-canoe is thirty-five feet in length. Eight men make the crew, each wielding a paddle five and a half feet long. The whaling-gear consists of harpoons, lines, lances, and seal-skin buoys, all of their own workmanship. The cutting material of both lance and spear was formerly the thick part of a mussel-shell, or of the "abelone;" the line made from cedar withes, twisted into a three-strand rope. The buoys are fancifully painted, but those belonging to each boat have a distinguishing mark. The lance-pole, or harpoon-staff, made of the heavy wood of the yew-tree, is eighteen feet long, weighing as many pounds, and with the lance attached is truly a formidable weapon.

      Their whaling-grounds are limited, as the Indians rarely venture seaward far out of sight of the smoke from their cabins by day, or beyond view of their bonfires at night. The number of canoes engaged in one of these expeditions is from two to five, the crews being taken from among the chosen men of the tribe, who, with silent stroke, can paddle the symmetrical canim close to the rippling water beside the animal; the bowman then, with sure aim, thrusts the harpoon into it, and heaves the line and buoys clear of the canoe. The worried creature may dive deeply, but very little time elapses before the inflated seal-skins are visible again. The instant these are seen, a buoy is elevated on a pole from the nearest canoe, by way of signal; then all dash, with shout and grunt, toward the object of pursuit. Now the chase attains the highest pitch of excitement, for each boat being provided with implements alike, in order to entitle it to a full share of the prize its crew must lodge their harpoon in the animal, with buoys attached; so that, after the first attack is made, the strife that ensues to be next to throw the spear creates a scene of brawl and agility peculiar to these savage adventurers. At length the victim, becoming weakened by loss of blood, yields to a system of torture characteristic of its eager pursuers, and eventually, spouting its last blood from a lacerated heart, it writhes in convulsions and expires. Then the whole fleet of canoes assists in towing it to the shore, where a division is made, and all the inhabitants of the village greedily feed upon the fat and flesh till their appetites are satisfied. After the feast, what oil may be extracted from the remains is put into skins or bladders, and is an article of traffic with neighboring tribes or the white traders who occasionally visit them.

      These "whales of passage," when arrived in the Arctic Ocean and Okhotsk Sea, are seen emerging between the scattered floes, and even forcing themselves through the field of ice, rising midway above the surface, and blowing in the same

attitude in which they are frequently seen in the southern lagoons; at such times the combined sound of their respirations can be heard, in a calm day, for miles across the ice and water. But in those far northern regions, the animals are rarely pursued by the whale-ship's boats: hence they rest in some degree of security; yet even there, the watchful Esquimaux steal upon them, and to their primitive weapons and rude processes the whale at last succumbs, and supplies food and substance for its captors.

      The Esquimaux whaling-boat, although to all appearance simple in its construction, will be found, after careful investigation, to be admirably adapted to the purpose, as well as for all other uses necessity demands. It is not only used to accomplish the more important undertaking, but in it they hunt the walrus, shoot game, and make their long summer-voyages about the coast, up the deep bays and long rivers, where they traffic with the interior tribes. When prepared for whaling, the boat is cleared of all passengers and useless incumbrances, nothing being allowed but the whaling-gear. Eight picked men make the crew.^* Their boats are twenty-five to thirty feet long, and are flat on the bottom, with flaring sides and tapering ends. The framework is of wood, lashed together with the fibres of baleen and thongs of walrus-hide, the latter article being the covering, or planking, to the boat. The implements are one or more harpoons, made of ivory, with a point of slate-stone or iron; a boat-mast, that serves the triple purpose of spreading the sail and furnishing the staff for the harpoon and lance; a large knife, and eight paddles. The knife lashed to the mast constitutes the lance.

      The boat being in readiness, the chase begins. As soon as the whale is seen and its course ascertained, all get behind it: not a word is spoken, nor will they take notice of a passing ship or boat, when once excited in the chase. All is silent and motionless until the spout is seen, when they instantly paddle toward it. The spouting over, every paddle is raised; again the spout is seen or heard through the fog, and again they spring to their paddles. In this manner the animal is approached near enough to throw the harpoon, when all shout at the top of their voices. This is said to have the effect of checking the animal's way through the water, thus giving an opportunity to plant the spear in its body, with line and buoys attached. The chase continues in this wise until a number of weapons are firmly fixed, causing the animal much effort to get under water, and still more to remain down; so it soon rises again, and is attacked with renewed vigor. It is the

established custom with these simple natives, that the man who first effectually throws his harpoon, takes command of the whole party: accordingly, as soon as the animal becomes much exhausted, his baidarra is paddled near, and with surprising quickness he cuts a hole in its side sufficiently large to admit the knife and mast to which it is attached; then follows a course of cutting and piercing till death ensues, after which the treasure is towed to the beach in front of their huts, where it is divided, each member of the party receiving two "slabs of bone," and a like proportion of the blubber and entrails; the owners of the canoes claiming what remains.

      The choice pieces for a dainty repast, with them, are the flukes, lips, and fins. The oil is a great article of trade with the interior tribes of "reindeer-men:" it is sold in skins of fifteen gallons each, a skin of oil being the price of a reindeer. The entrails are made into a kind of souse, by pickling them in a liquid extracted from a root that imparts an acrid taste: this preparation is a savory dish, as well as a preventive of the scurvy. The lean flesh supplies food for their dogs, the whole troop of the village gathering about the carcass, fighting, feasting, and howling, as only sledge-dogs can.

      Many of the marked habits of the California Gray are widely different from those of any other species of balaena. It makes regular migrations from the hot southern latitudes to beyond the Arctic Circle; and in its passages between the extremes of climate it follows the general trend of an irregular coast so near that it is exposed to attack from the savage tribes inhabiting the sea-shores, who pass much of their time in the canoe, and consider the capture of this singular wanderer a feat worthy of the highest distinction. As it approaches the waters of the torrid zone, it presents an opportunity to the civilized whalemen – at sea, along the shore, and in the lagoons – to practice their different modes of strategy, thus hastening the time of its entire annihilation. This species of whale manifests the greatest affection for its young, and seeks the sheltered estuaries lying under a tropical sun, as if to warm its offspring into activity and promote comfort, until grown to the size Nature demands for its first northern visit. When the parent animals are attacked, they show a power of resistance and tenacity of life that distinguish them from all other Cetaceans. Many an expert whaleman has suffered in his encounters with them, and many a one has paid the penalty with his life. Once captured, however, this whale yields the coveted reward to its enemies, furnishing sustenance for the Esquimaux whaler, from such parts as are of little value to others. The oil extracted from its fatty covering is exchanged with remote tribes for their fur-clad animals, of which the flesh affords the venders a feast of the choicest food,

and the skins form an indispensable article of clothing. The North-west Indians realize the same comparative benefit from the captured animals as do the Esquimaux, and look forward to its periodical passage through their circumscribed fishing-grounds as a season of exploits and profit.

      The civilized whaler seeks the hunted animal farther seaward, as from year to year it learns to shun the fatal shore. None of the species are so constantly and variously pursued as the one we have endeavored to describe; and the large bays and lagoons, where these animals once congregated, brought forth and nurtured their young, are already nearly deserted. The mammoth bones of the California Gray lie bleaching on the shores of those silvery waters, and are scattered along the broken coasts, from Siberia to the Gulf of California; and ere long it may be questioned whether this mammal will not be numbered among the extinct species of the Pacific.

CHAPTER II.

THE FINBACK WHALE.

      Another species of the whale tribe is known as the Finback, or Finner, whose geographical distribution is as extended as that of the Sulphurbottom, and which ranks next to it in point of swiftness.

      One picked up by Captain Poole, of the bark Sarah Warren, of San Francisco, affords us the following memoranda: Length, sixty-five feet; thickness of blubber, seven to nine inches; yield of oil, seventy-five barrels; color of blubber, a clear white. Top of head quite as flat and straight as that of the Humpback. Baleen, the longest, two feet four inches; greatest width, thirteen inches; its color, a light lead, streaked with black, and its surface presents a ridgy appearance crosswise; length of fringe to bone, two to four inches, and in size this may be compared to a cambric needle.

      A Balaenoptera, which came on shore near the outer heads of the Golden Gate, gave us the opportunity of obtaining the following rough measurements:

      Its side fins and flukes are in like proportion to the body as in the California Gray. Its throat and breast are marked with deep creases, or folds, similar to the Humpback. Color of back and sides, black or blackish-brown (in some individuals a curved band of lighter shade marks its upper sides, between the spiracles and pectorals); belly, a milky white. Its back fin is placed nearer to the caudal than the hump on the Humpback, and in shape approaches to a right-angled

triangle, but rounded on the forward edge, curved on the opposite one; the longest side joins the back in some examples, and in others the anterior edge is the longest. The gular folds spread on each side to the pectorals, and extended half the length of the body.

      The habitual movements of the Finback in several points are peculiar. When it respires, the vaporous breath passes quickly through its spiracles, and when a fresh supply of air is drawn into the breathing system, a sharp and somewhat musical sound may be heard at a considerable distance, which is quite distinguishable from that of other whales of the same genus. (We have observed the interval between the respirations of a large Finback to be about seven seconds.) It frequently gambols about vessels at sea, in mid-ocean as well as close in with the coast, darting under them, or shooting swiftly through the water on either side; at one moment upon the surface, belching forth its quick, ringing spout, and the next instant submerging itself beneath the waves, as if enjoying a spirited race with the ship dashing along under a press of sail. In beginning the descent, it assumes a variety of positions: sometimes rolling over nearly on its side, at other times rounding, or perhaps heaving, its flukes out, and assuming nearly a perpendicular attitude. Frequently it remains on the surface, making a regular course and several uniform "blows." Occasionally they congregate in schools of fifteen to twenty, or less. In this situation we have usually observed them going quickly through the water, several spouting at the same instant. Their uncertain movements, however – often showing themselves twice or thrice, then disappearing – and their swiftness, make them very difficult to capture. The results of several attempts to catch them were as follows: from the ship one was shot with a bomb-gun, which did its work so effectually, that although the boat was in readiness for instant lowering, before it got within darting distance the animal, in its dying contortions, ran foul of the ship, giving her a shock that was very sensibly felt by all on board, and likewise a momentary heel of about two streaks. We had a good view of the under-side of the whale as it made several successive rolls before disappearing, and our observations agreed with those noted on board the Sarah Warren in relation to color and the creases on throat and breast. The under-side of the fins was white also. At another time the whale died about ten fathoms under water, and after carefully hauling it up in sight, the "iron drawed, and away the dead animal went to the depths beneath." Frequently we have "lowered" for single ones that were playing about the ship, but by the time the boats were in the water nothing more would be seen of them, or, if seen, they would be a long way off, and then disappear.

      An instance occurred in Monterey Bay, in 1865, of five being captured under

the following circumstances: A "pod" of whales was seen in the offing, by the whalemen, from their shore station, who immediately embarked in their boats and gave chase. On coming up to them they were found to be Finbacks. One was harpooned, and, although it received a mortal wound, they all "run together" as before. One of the gunners, being an expert, managed to shoot the whole five, and they were all ultimately secured, yielding to the captors a merited prize. We have noticed large numbers of these whales along the coast during the summer months, and they seem to be more together at that particular season; but, as the opportunities for observing their habits have been much greater at that time of the year, we may have been led into error upon this particular point. Their food is of the same nature as that of the other rorquals, and the quantity of codfish which has been found in them is truly enormous. On the northern coast, the Finbacks, in many instances, have a much larger fin than those in warmer latitudes, and we are fully satisfied that these are a distinct species, confined to the northern waters.

      We have had but little opportunity to observe the Finbacks that frequently rove about the Gulf of Georgia and Fuca Strait. Several have been seen, however, in May and June, on the coasts of California and Oregon, and in Fuca Strait in June and July of the year 1864; these observations satisfy us that the dorsal fin of this – the northern species referred to – is strikingly larger than in the more southern Finbacks.

      Appended are the outlines of one individual of several seen in Queen Charlotte Sound, in February, 1865, which is a fair representation of them all. Those we have noticed about Fuca Strait seem to have the back fin modified in size between the extremely small one found on the coast of Lower California and the one here represented.

CHAPTER III.

THE HUMPBACK WHALE.

      The Humpback is one of the species of rorquals that roam through every ocean, generally preferring to feed and perform its uncouth gambols near extensive coasts, or about the shores of islands, in all latitudes between the equator and the frozen oceans, both north and south. It is irregular in its movements, seldom going a straight course for any considerable distance; at one time moving about in large numbers, scattered over the sea as far as the eye can discern from the mast-head; at other times singly, seeming as much at home as if it were surrounded by hundreds of its kind; performing at will the varied actions of "breaching," "rolling," "finning," "lobtailing," or "scooping;" or, on a calm, sunny day, perhaps lying motionless on the molten-looking surface, as though life were extinct.

      Its shape, compared with the symmetrical forms of the Finback, California Gray, and Sulphurbottom, is decidedly ugly, as it has a short, thick body, and frequently a diminutive "small," with inordinately large pectorals and flukes. A protuberance, of variable shape and size in different individuals, placed on the back, about one-fourth the length from the caudal fin, is called the hump. Another cartilaginous boss projects from a centre fold immediately beneath the anterior point of the under jaw, which, with the flukes, pectorals, and throat of the creature, are oftentimes hung with pendent parasites^* (Otion Stimpsoni), and on

the males it is frequently studded with tubercles, as upon the head. A bulge also rounds down on the lower part of the "small," nearly midway between the hump and caudal. Its under jaw extends forward considerably beyond the upper one. All these combined characteristics impress the observer with the idea of an animal of abnormal proportions. The top of its head is dotted with irregular, rounded bunches, which rise about one inch above the surface, each covering nearly four square inches of space.

      The following measurements and memoranda of a male Humpback were taken by Captain F. S. Redfield, of the whaling and trading brig Manuella, while cruising in Behring Sea, September 17th, 1866:

      Thickness of blubber, five to ten inches; color of blubber, yellowish white; yield of oil, forty barrels; number of folds on belly, twenty-six, averaging from four to six inches in width. These folds, which extend from the anterior portion of the throat over the belly, terminating a little behind the pectorals, are capable of great expansion and 'contraction, which enables the Humpbacks, as well as all other rorquals, to swell their maws when their food is in abundance about them.

      The following additional measurements, etc., were taken from Humpbacks captured on the coast of Upper California, in 1872.

      1. Sex, female. Color of body, black above, but more or less marbled with white below. Fins, black above, and dotted with white beneath. Color of blubber, white. Number of folds on throat and breast, twenty-one, the widest of which were six inches. Yield of oil, thirty-five barrels. The yield of bone, which is of inferior quality, is about four hundred pounds to a hundred barrels of oil.

      The nib-end, or point of the upper jaw, fell short of the extremity of the

lower one about fifteen inches. The tongue and throat were of a leaden color. The orbit of the eye was four inches in diameter. The longest plate of bone, or baleen, was two feet; its color, black, with a fringe of lighter shade.

      2. Sex, female. Color of body, black, with slight marks of white beneath. Color of pectorals, black above, white below. Color of flukes, black above and below. Color of blubber, white; average thickness of same, six inches. Yield of oil, thirty barrels. Gular folds, eighteen. Tubercles on lips, nine.

      3. Sex, female. Color of body, black above, slightly mottled with white and gray below. Fins and flukes, black above, white beneath. Color of blubber, white; thickness of same, six to nine inches. Yield of oil, forty barrels. Number of laminae, five hundred and forty; black, streaked with white, or light lead color.

      It is proper to state, that the dimensions of the skull, or upper jaw-bone, of any ordinary sized animal would be about fifteen feet long by six broad. The lower jaw-bones, which are joined by a slight symphysis, are each about the same length in their curves, and are about one foot wide and eight inches thick midway between the extremities. The thickness of the lumbar vertebrae is about eight inches; the distance between the points of the spurs, two feet eight inches; and the weight, twenty-four or more pounds. The largest ribs are from nine to twelve feet long, measured on the curve, and ten to fifteen inches in circumference. The aggregate weight of two well-dried specimens (measuring respectively nine and ten feet) was eighty pounds. The first joint of the pectoral bones may be set down at two and a half feet in length, and the same in circumference at its union with the shoulder-blade. This section of the fin bones exceeds fifty pounds in weight.

      The usual color of the Humpback is black above, a little lighter below, slightly marbled with white or gray; but sometimes the animal is of spotless white under the

fins and about the abdomen. The posterior edge of the hump, in many examples, is tipped with pure white. The megaptera varies more in the production of oil than all others of the rorquals. We have frequently seen individuals which yielded but eight or ten barrels of oil, and others as much as seventy-five; the length of the animal varying from twenty-five to seventy-five feet. Most of these variations may be attributed to age and sex, as the female with a large cub becomes quite destitute of fat in her covering. These animals, more especially the smaller or younger ones, are infested with parasitic crustaceans (Cyamus suffusus), which collect in great numbers about the head and pectorals; or, in case there are any wounds upon the body, these troublesome vermin are sure to find them. On the coast of California, in 1856, we captured a whale of ordinary size, which had many patches of these parasites united almost in one mass upon that portion of the body which was exposed when the animal came to the surface, and when "cut in" it proved to have what is termed a "dry skin," the blubber being destitute of oil; this was attributed to the abundance of these troublesome parasites. The Humpback has also the largest barnacles adhering to, or imbedded in, the epidermis, about the throat or fins. The habits of this whale – particularly in its undulating movements, frequent "roundings," "turning of flukes," and irregular course – are characteristic indications, which the quick and practiced eye of the whaleman distinguishes at a long distance. Even when beneath the surface of the sea, we have observed them just "under the rim of the water" (as whalemen used to say), alternately turning from side to side, or deviating in their course with as little apparent effort, and as gracefully, as a swallow on the wing. Like all other rorquals, it has two spiracles, and when it respires, the breath and vapor ejected through these apertures form the "spout," and rises in two separate columns, which, however, unite in one as they ascend and expand. When the enormous lungs of the animal are brought into full play, the spout ascends twenty feet or more. When the whale is going to windward, the influence of the breeze upon the vapor is such, that a low, bushy spout is all that can be seen. The number of respirations to a "rising" is exceedingly variable: sometimes the animal blows only once, at another time six, eight, or ten, and from that up to fifteen or twenty times.

      Although the Humpbacks are found in every sea and ocean, our observations indicate that they resort periodically, and with some degree of regularity, to particular localities, where the females bring forth their young. It seems, moreover, that large numbers of both sexes make a sort of general migration from the warmer to the colder latitudes, as the seasons change. They go north in the northern hemisphere, as summer approaches, and return south when winter sets in.

      The following observations were made along the coasts of North and South America, and in Oceanica. In the years 1852 and 1853, large numbers of Hump-backs resorted to the Gulf of Guayaquil, coast of Peru, to calve, and the height of the season was during the months of July and August. The same may be said of the gulfs and bays situated near the corresponding latitudes north of the equator; still, instances are not unfrequent where cows and their calves have been seen at all other seasons of the year about the same coast. In the Bay of Valle de Banderas, coast of Mexico (latitude 20° 30'), in the month of December, we saw numbers of Humpbacks, with calves but a few days old. In May, 1855, at Magdalena Bay, coast of Lower California (about latitude 24° 30'), we found them in like numbers; some with very large calves, while others were very small. The season at Tongataboo (one of the Friendly Islands, latitude 21° south, longitude 174° west), according to Captain Beckerman, includes August and September. Here the females were usually large, yielding an average of forty barrels of oil, including the entrail fat, which amounted to about six barrels. The largest whale taken at this point, during the season of 1871, produced seventy-three barrels, and she was adjudged to be seventy-five feet in length. It is worthy of remark, that a large majority of the whales resorting thither were white on the under side of the body and fins.^*

      In the Bay of Monterey, Upper California, the best season for Humpbacks is in the months of October and November; but some whales are taken during the period from April to December, including a part of both of those months. The great body of these whales, however, are observed working their way northward until September, when they begin to return southward; and the bay being open to the north, many of the returning band follow along its shores or visit its south-ern extremity, in search of food, which consists principally of small fish and the lower orders of crustaceans. When the animals are feeding, the whalers have a very favorable opportunity for their pursuit and capture. The observations of the whaling parties, which have been established at this bay for over seventeen years, furnish reliable data in reference to the periodical movements of whales along the Pacific Coast. Of the Humpbacks, individuals of every variety, size, and age have been taken, including one of the most gigantic specimens of the genus. This animal, which yielded one hundred and forty-five barrels of oil, was taken in 1858, when the usual school of large megapteras was making its annual passage south-ward. One of the largest of these whales having an unusual mark – a white spot on the hump?was recognized for several years in succession in its periodical mi-

grations with the rest of its wandering companions, and the time of passing Point Pinos (the outer headland of the bay), was ascertained to be during or near the month of September. Repeated efforts were made, from year to year, to capture the member of the "gam" thus distinguished by a white hump; but it was only when the bomb-gun and bomb-lance had come into use that its destruction was effected. The animal proved to be of enormous size, but its product of oil was comparatively small, amounting only to about eighty-five barrels.

      After many years' study of the characteristic habits of the Humpback, we believe that the females of this species resort in large numbers to favorite inland waters, connected with the ocean, to bring forth their young; but there are many exceptions to this rule, incident to their roving disposition. They are found on different coasts in all accessible latitudes, from the new-born calf to the extremely aged. In their wanderings, they are addicted, more than any other rorqual, to "breaching," "bolting," and "finning." In the mating season they are noted for their amorous antics. At such times their caresses are of the most amusing and novel character, and these performances have doubtless given rise to the fabulous tales of the sword-fish and thrasher attacking whales. When lying by the side of each other, the megapteras frequently administer alternate blows with their long fins, which love-pats may, on a still day, be heard at a distance of miles. They also rub each other with these same huge and flexible arms, rolling, occasionally from side to side, and indulging in other gambols which can easier be imagined than described. The time of gestation is not known; but in all probability it is the same as that of other large Cetaceans, not exceeding ten or twelve months. The calf, when brought forth, is about one-fourth the length of the dam; and it suckles by holding the teat between the extremity of the jaws or lips, while the mother reclines a little on one side; raising the posterior portion of her form nearly out of water, and lying in a relaxed condition. This peculiar manner of suckling the young appears to be common to all the whalebone whales. In this way two calves would be enabled to obtain their nourishment at the same time.

      The Humpbacks are captured with a common hand-harpoon and lance, or "Greener's Harpoon Gun," and the bomb-lance, by the whaleship's crew; and as they are very liable to sink when dead, every exertion is made to get the harpoon in, with line attached, before the bomb-gun is discharged. Then, if the creature goes to the bottom, a buoy is attached to the end of the line, or a boat lies by it, until the decomposition of its flesh has generated sufficient gas to allow the animal to be drawn up. The length of time that elapses before this takes place of

course depends much on the depth of water and the solidity of the animal's formation; some individuals remaining but a few hours on the bottom, while others will remain down for two or three days at the same depth. We have known many whales to be recovered when sunk in from forty to sixty fathoms of water. The modus operandi in hauling these decomposing subjects to the surface is this: If the water is rough, the line is taken into the bow-chocks^* of the boat; then uniting two crews in the after part of one boat, they either haul on the line by hand, or with a tackle, until the boat's bow is nearly submerged, or the whale is lifted; or, if in a smooth bay, two boats are sometimes used, by laying a spar across both, and taking the line between them over the spar, which serves as a sort of windlass purchase. If the dead animal has been long down, in a considerable depth, care is taken to avoid its coming up under the boat; for as the carcass nears the surface, its velocity is so much accelerated, that in some instances the animal rises with a bound which equals its sprightliest actions before life became extinct.

      The megapteras are captured by the Indians of the North-western Coast, and the Esquimaux about the shores of the Arctic Ocean, in the same manner as the California Grays, as has been described in the opening chapter of this work; and the natives of the Aleutian Islands pursue them, as well as other rorquals. When a whale is seen, the baidarka (skin-boat) is launched and manned by two or three men, and a spirited chase ensues. When close to the object of pursuit, their toy-like harpoons are hurled into the animal. This, however, does not insure an immediate capture; but their weapons, which are pointed with glass or flint-stone, and barbed with bone, are so fashioned, that, as the wounded creature writhes in its agony, every motion tends to work the tortuous instrument farther in; and at last the fatal work is accomplished. Each whaler"s spear has his own private mark, and should the prize be found by others, they seek to ascertain by this means the rightful owners, who by their laws or customs are entitled to the booty wherever it may be found.

      The best points for Humpback whaling on the coast have been Magdalena, Balenas, and Monterey bays; but, since the acquisition of Alaska, numerous places have been found in the bays and about the islands of that Territory, which doubtless in the future will become profitable whaling stations. Several bays around the Aleutian Archipelago, bordering on Behring Sea, may be indicated as likely to be valuable for this business.

CHAPTER IV.

THE SHARP-HEADED FINNER WHALE.

      The name "Sharp-headed Finner" is applied to this, the smallest species of Balaenoptera known on the coast. The only one we have examined was found dead on the northern shore of Admiralty Inlet, Washington Territory, by some Italian fishermen, in October, 1870; transported by them to the opposite shore, and towed into Port Townsend Bay, where it was flensed on the beach. This opportunity of seeing the animal out of the water became unusually interesting to us, for there was a mystery about its history which we had not been able to solve in the course of twelve years' observations, during which time we had traced it from the coast of Mexico to Behring Sea. In the Strait of Juan de Fuca opportunities were afforded for observing its habits more closely than elsewhere.

      The animal in question is generally called by whalers a "young Finback," or a "Finback's calf," and for several years we were under the impression that this inference was correct. In the Strait of Juan de Fuca, these whales were met with in numbers together, or singly, throughout the year; but, though they frequently played around the vessel, we could never get near enough to decide whether they were toothed whales or allied to the whalebone species. The length of the individual captured in Admiralty Inlet was twenty-seven feet. When compared with other Balaenidae, it appeared so small, that we were skeptical whether it was an adult or not; but, upon making an examination, a well-developed foetus^* was found

in it, five and a half feet long, which dispelled all doubts in regard to its maturity. The principal distinguishing features of this whale are, its dwarfish size; its pointed head, which in form resembles a beak; its low, falcated dorsal fin, which is placed about two-thirds of the length of the animal from the anterior extremity of its lower jaw, which is the longest; and its inordinately small, pointed pectorals, which are marked with a white band above and near their bases, and are placed about one-third of the animal's length from its anterior extremity. The bone, or baleen, in its natural state is of a pure white, with a short, thin fringe of the same color. The number of laminae on each side of the mouth was two hundred and seventy, and the longest of these measured ten inches. The surface of the animal was a dull black above, white below. The under side of both pectoral and caudal fins was white also. Seventy longitudinal folds extended along the throat and the lower portion of the body, between and a little behind the fins; and, while the outer surface of the folds was of a milky whiteness, the creases between them were of a pinkish cast, imparting the same shade to the throat as far back as the pectorals. The following table gives the proportions of this specimen:

      The foregoing measurements were hurriedly taken while the whale was being cut up, which was quickly accomplished; for as fast as the Italians stripped off the blubber, the Indians came from a village near, and slashed away at the half-putrid flesh, which they packed off to their camps, declaring loudly that the meat was excellent food. The coating of yellowish fat that incased the body averaged three inches in thickness, and the yield of oil was about three hundred gallons.

      The habits of this whale are in many respects like those of the Finback. It

frequently gambols about vessels when under way, darting from one side to the other beneath their bottoms. When coming to the surface it makes a quick, faint spout, such as would be made by a suckling of one of the larger Cetaceans; which plainly accounts for whalemen taking it to be the young of more bulky species. At sea the Sharp-headed Finners are seldom seen in pairs, but wander solitarily along, frequently changing their course in the depths below, and meandering along the whole continental coast of the North Pacific; occasionally visiting the large estuaries about the shores. They pass through Behring Sea and Strait into the Arctic Ocean, where they appear to be as much at home as their superiors in size, the Bowheads and the California Grays. Like the latter they thread the icy floes, and frequently emerge through the narrow fissures bolt upright, with their heads above the broken ice, to blow. When roaming about the inland waters of lower latitudes, they often shoot along the shallow borders of the bays in search of the myriads of small fry on which they mainly sustain themselves. They can not be considered as objects of pursuit by whaling vessels, and are but rarely taken by the natives of Cape Flattery – they being the only whalers in that region who attempt the capture of these animals,

CHAPTER V.

THE BOWHEAD, OR GREAT POLAR WHALE.

      The Bowhead, or Great Polar Whale, is by far the most valuable, in a commercial point of view, of all the Balaenidae, and is the chief object of pursuit by the whalemen in the northern seas. From its great yield of oil, which in some individuals has exceeded two hundred and seventy-five barrels, with a production of bone or baleen equal to over three thousand five hundred pounds,^* one might suppose it to be the largest of all the Cetaceans. Such, however, is not the fact, for it seldom attains the length of sixty-five feet, and it is a stout whale which measures fifty feet between its extremities. The striking feature of the animal is its ponderous head, forming, as far as our observations go, more than one-third of the whole creature, which is short, bulky, and bloated in its appearance. Its upper jaw, or the top of the head, is curved downward more than that of the Right Whale (Balaena Sieboldii?), to which it bears the nearest resemblance. To the edge of this jaw, the long, finely fringed, transverse layers of baleen are attached, projecting downward and outward, and hedging in, as it were, the animal's tongue, and all is inclosed by the under lip when the mouth is shut. The tongue is incapable of protrusion, being fixed from near its point to the root. It is a mass of spongy fat, intermixed with sinewy flesh, and yields one-tenth as much oil as the "body-blubber." The two extended rows of baleen which line the sides of the upper jaw provide the means by which the animal secures its insect food, which is the chief sustenance of the colossal mysticetus. Its eyes, which in size quadruple those of an ox, are placed, one on each side, about a foot above and behind the angle of the mouth. The spiracles are at the apex of the high protuberance on the head, which is forward of the eyes. Its short but heavy pectorals are placed about two feet from the eyes and nearly in a horizontal line with them. Its ears are a little above and behind the eyes; they are simply openings, not over one-fourth of an

inch in extent, and in some individuals they are so minute that it is with the greatest difficulty they can be discovered. An immense caudal fin, which forms the posterior limb and extremity of the body, is from sixteen to twenty feet in extension, and in shape thick, broad, lunate, and notched in the centre of the posterior edge, while the extremities are somewhat rounded.

      I am indebted to Captain J. F. Poole, formerly of the American bark N. S. Perkins, for the measurements and memoranda of a mysticetus, forty-seven feet in length, which was taken in the Arctic Ocean, August, 1867; and to Captain G. L. Smith, of the American bark Vineyard, for similar statements of one forty-five feet long, taken in the same ocean during the season of 1870, as follows:^*

CAPTAIN POOLE'S WHALE.

      Sex, female. Color, black on back and sides; throat white; also, occasional white spots on under side of body. Yield of oil, eighty barrels (the whale was judged large enough ordinarily to have yielded one hundred and fifty barrels of oil).

      The bone was imbedded in the gum of the jaw ten inches. Number of layers of bone on each side of jaw, three hundred and thirty;^‡ weight of largest slab of

bone, seven pounds. The bone extends back of spout-holes in the throat three feet, and falls short of nib-end one foot.

CAPTAIN SMITH'S WHALE.

      Sex, male; color above and below, black.

      Color of blubber, slightly reddish. The number of layers of bone on each side of the jaw was three hundred and eight. The yield of oil was sixty barrels; yield of bone, one thousand and fifty pounds.

      When the Bowhead feeds, it moves through its native element, either below or near the surface, with considerable velocity, its jaws being open, whereby a body of water enters its capacious mouth, and along with it the animalculae (termed by the whalemen "Right Whale feed," or "brit"). The water escapes through the layers of baleen,^* but the insect food is retained by the fine fringes on its inner edges, and is afterward swallowed. When not disturbed, the animal remains up, generally, to respire, from one and a half to two and a half minutes, during which time it spouts from six to nine times, and then disappears for the space of ten to twenty minutes. The volume of vapor ejected is similar to that of the Right Whale. Sometimes, when engaged in feeding, it remains down for twenty-five minutes or

more. The depth to which the animal descends when pursued is not accurately known, for as a general rule, it has been captured "on soundings" in the Arctic Ocean and Behring Sea, as well as in the Sea of Okhotsk, where the depths, in places, do not exceed a hundred fathoms, and from that to less than fifty. Sometimes they have been taken in very shallow water; yet this animal, when in deep water, has been known to "sound out" a line, in its descent and return, equal to a mile in length. But it must not be inferred that this was done by the perpendicular course of the whale, for it is found that the line runs out with great swiftness, when the creature begins its return to the surface. Repeated instances have occurred, where the animal, after being fastened to, would "sound;" and, if the bottom was soft, would there remain motionless for quite an incredible length of time for this species of Cetacea. In several cases, individuals have held their pursuers in momentary expectation of their rising, for an hour or more. One instance occurred with Captain Comstock, (a well-known whaling-master), in the Arctic Ocean, when, after fastening to a huge Bowhead, the creature descended to the muddy bottom, and there remained for an hour and twenty minutes. The day was unusually cold, and the men in the boats became much chilled during this period of inactivity; and to use the captain's own words, when giving an account of the incident, "The old sogger nearly played us a game of freeze-out." When the whale returned to the top of the water, it was literally covered with mud, and appeared much exhausted. A thrust of the lance prevented the animal from again "sounding," and after throwing up heavy volumes of thick blood, in its spoutings, it rolled over, "fin out," with but slight struggling.

      The Arctic Bowhead is comparatively free from parasitic crustaceans, as well as barnacles. Occasionally, however, a species of Cyamus^† is present about the head or fins. The range of this animal extends east and west from Nova Zembla to the coast of Eastern Siberia. Its northern limits remain undefined; and it is sel-

dom seen in Behring Sea south of the fifty-fifth parallel, which is about the farthest southern extent of the winter ice; while in the Sea of Okhotsk the southern limit of this species is about the latitude of 54°. In tracing the history of its capture, we can revert to the Dutch and Russian fishery about Spitzbergen anterior to 1615, and we find that, as years passed on, it was extended westward, on the Atlantic side, as far as the icy barriers in Davis Strait, and the adjacent waters connecting with the Frozen Ocean. Everything tends to prove that the Balaena mysticetus is truly an "ice-whale," for among the scattered floes, or about the borders of the ice-fields or barriers, is its home and feeding-ground. It is true that these animals are pursued in the open water during the summer months, but in no instance have we learned of their being captured south of where winter ice-fields are occasionally met with. In the Okhotsk Sea and its bays, these whales are found throughout the season, after the ice disappears; nevertheless, they remain around the floes until dispelled by the summer sun; and they are found in the same localities even after the surface of the water has again become congealed by the rigors of returning winter.

      Right whales were pursued for several years on the North-western Coast, on the coast of Kamschatka, about the Kurile Islands, and in the Japan Sea, before Bowheads were known to exist in that part of the Arctic Ocean adjoining Behring Strait, or in the Okhotsk Sea. In the year 1848, Captain Roys, in the American bark Superior, was the first whaling-master to work his vessel through Behring Strait into the Arctic Ocean, and there found whales innumerable, some of which yielded two hundred and eighty barrels of oil.

      The habits of the Bowhead are, in many respects, like those of the Humpback, being irregular in its movements, in its respirations, and in the periods of time either above or below the surface of the water. When going gently along, or lying quietly, it shows two portions of the body: the spout-holes, and a part of the back, on account of the high conical shape of the former, and the swell of the latter, which is about midway between the spout-holes and flukes.

      The Bowheads of the Arctic may be classed as follows: 1st class – the largest whales, of a brown color; average yield of oil two hundred barrels. 2d class – smaller, color black; yield of oil one hundred barrels. 3d class – the smallest, color black; yield of oil seventy-five barrels.^* Those belonging to the last named class are generally found among the broken floes the first of the season, and they have been known to break through ice, three inches in thickness, that had been

formed over water between the floes. They do this by coming up under and striking it with the arched portion of their heads. Hence they have been called "ice-breakers." In point of color, nearly all are found with more or less white on the under side, especially about the throat and fins.

      Whalers bound to the Arctic are generally at the "edge of the ice," which is met with near lat. 60°, about the 1st of May. They then work their way north-ward as fast as the broken floes will permit, keeping as near shore as practicable, in order to be on the best "whale-ground," and to avoid the ice: Many whales were formerly taken off Karaginski Island, lat. 59°, on the coast of Kamschatka. Behring Strait is sufficiently clear of ice from the 1st to the 20th of July, for ships to navigate with comparative safety. A large fleet collect, and grope their way through ice and fog into the Arctic (as termed), and frequently reach the high latitude of 72° north. Occasionally an open season occurs, when whalemen hazard their ships around Point Barrow. Captain Roys entered the ocean in the middle of July, and left on the 28th of August, but at the present time ships remain until October.

      The principal herding-places of the Bowheads in the Okhotsk were at the extremities of this great sheet of water, the most northern being the North-east Gulf (Gulf of Ghijigha), the most southern, Tchantar Bay. The whales did not make their appearance in North-east Gulf so soon as in the bay. Whalers endeavored, as soon as possible, to get to the head of Tchantar Bay, where they found the objects of pursuit in the intermediate water, between the ice and the shore, long before the main body of the congealed mass was broken up, and before the ships could get between the ice and the shore, even at high tide – the boats being sent forward weeks previous to the ships. Soon after the ships' arrival, the whales avoided their pursuers by going under the main body of ice, situated in the middle of the bay, where they found breathing-holes among the floes. The boats cruised about the edge of this barrier, watching for them to emerge from their covert, which occasionally they did, when chase was instantly given. Frequently, in sailing along this ice-field, you could hear distinctly the sound of whales blowing among it, when no water was visible at the point whence the sound came. The first of the season, before the ice broke up and disappeared, when there were "no whales about," the question was frequently asked, "Where are the whales?" and as often answered, "They are in the ice;" and, "When do you think they will come out?" was answered by, "When the ice leaves." It has been established, beyond question, that this species pass from the Atlantic to the Pacific, or rather, if we may be allowed the expression, from the Atlantic Arctic to the Pacific Arctic, by the north; and, too, it is equally certain that numerous air-holes always exist in the ice that

covers the Arctic waters, even in the coldest latitudes. These fissures are caused by the rise and fall of the tides, and contraction and expansion of the ice. Storms acting upon the water hundreds of miles distant also have their influence in rending asunder the icy fetters of those frozen seas. It appears to us not improbable that the Bowhead, has a feeding and breeding ground in a polar sea. And as they have never been seen during the winter months in any other quarter of the globe, except as before mentioned, it would appear that they must either remain among the rough water and broken ice, at the southern edge of the winter barrier, or migrate to some remote sea unknown to man.

OKHOTSK SEA BOWHEADS

      The preceding remarks have been confined chiefly to the Bowheads of the Arc-tic, in the vicinity of Behring Strait, north and south. The Okhotsk Sea at one time equaled if not surpassed the Arctic as a productive whaling-ground. Our memorandum does not state with certainty what year Bowheads were first taken in the Okhotsk. It, however, was not earlier than 1847, nor later than 1849.^* They were found to be easy of capture, and yielded a large amount of oil and bone. On making further explorations, the whales appeared in great numbers, and, from the peculiar shape of the head, the spout-holes terminating in a sort of cone, they were at that time called "steeple-tops." But a few years elapsed before a large fleet of ships was pursuing the animals throughout the whole extent of this vast inland water. Tchantar Bay, Taousk and Penjinsk gulfs soon became noted whaling-grounds, as well as several other points about the coasts. The whales of this sea, as far as known, are the same species as those of the Arctic; although in the bays is found, in addition, a very small whale called the "Poggy," which yields but little oil (twenty to twenty-five barrels).^† Many whalemen are of the

opinion that this is a different species. There is little doubt, however, of this being a young whale of the same species, as its blubber is close and fine, prducing but little oil in proportion to size of body, as is the case with all calves or young whales of every description.^*

BOWHEAD WHALING.

      In the Arctic and about Behring Sea, the whaling is "done from the ship," as it is termed: i. e., the vessels cruise, and the look-outs are kept aloft as usual, and when whales are seen, the boats are lowered and the pursuit is carried on in sight from the ships, unless obscured by fog. In the Okhotsk, much of the whaling is about the bays, particularly Tchantar Bay, and contiguous waters. The nature of the pursuit is such, in these localities, that the modus operandi is quite different. Vessels bound to Tchantar Bay endeavor to approach the land off Aian, if the

ice will permit, which is generally sufficiently broken and scattered by the 20th of June; then, working along between the ice and the Siberian coast, to the south-ward, as far as practicable with the ships, they dispatch boats to follow along the shore and if possible to reach the head of Tchantar Bay, where whales in former years were to be found in very large numbers. These expeditions were always attended with excessive labor, and much exposure as well as risk to the crews. Frequent instances have been known of boats leaving the ships off Aian, then threading their way along the coast, between the masses of ice, or between the ice and shore, as the ebb or flood tides would permit, until they reached the head of Tchantar Bay. On reaching their destination, and finding whales plenty they immediately commenced whaling, and by the time the ships arrived, in several instances, whales enough had been taken to yield a thousand barrels of oil. The elapsed time from leaving the ship till again joining the vessel in the bay would vary from one to three weeks. Meanwhile, the crews lived in or around their boats, being afloat when making the passage or engaged in whaling; and when driven to the shore by the ice or by stormy weather, or resorting thither to cook their food, or sleep, the boats were hauled up and turned partially over for shelter, and tents were pitched with the sails. Fallen trees or drift-wood furnished abundance of fuel, and by a rousing fire all slept soundly when an opportunity offered; but the more abundant the whales, the less the chance of sleep for the whalemen in those high latitudes, where daylight lasts nearly through the twenty-four hours during summer.

TCHANTAR BAY WHALING.

      Arrived on the ground, with the boats, all surplus provisions and outfits are quickly landed, and the chase begins. Frequent spouts in the air tell that the animals are all around. One of the number breaks the smooth surface of the water, between the land and ice, and is at once pursued; but perhaps, before the boat can reach within darting or shooting distance, the animal goes down. Then comes an impatient waiting for it to rise again. As the Bowhead is irregular in its course, when next seen it may be in another direction. Quickly the boat is headed for it, and before approaching near enough the whale goes down again. In this way the chase is frequently prolonged, sometimes abandoned, and other whales pursued; or, it may be that, when nearly within reach, the animal glides under a floe and thus evades its pursuers; or, if harpooned, it may run for the ice, and before being killed reaches it, and escapes with harpoons, lines, etc. If the pursuit proves successful, the captured whale is towed to the beach at high tide, and a

scarf is cut along the body and through the blubber, to which one end of a tackle is hooked, the other end being made fast on shore; then as the tide falls the animal is literally skinned, the carcass rolling down the bank as the process goes on. The bone is extracted from the mouth as the animal is rolled over and presents the best opportunity. As soon as the blubber is taken off it is "rafted,"^* and lies in the water until taken on board ship. The water being very cold, the blubber remains in its natural state for a long time, retaining the oil with but small loss. While the whaling is going on in this wise, the captain and the "ship-kepers" improve every opportunity to work the vessel near the whales. If there is an opening between the ice and the shore, she is at once worked through, either by towing, kedging, or sailing. On meeting an adverse wind or tide, the vessel is anchored with a very light anchor, so that if beset by ice unexpectedly, in the night or during the dense fogs which prevail, the vessel will drift with the floe, thereby avoiding the danger of being cut through. Heavy fogs prevail until the ice disappears, and the circumscribed clear water being crowded with vessels and boats, much care and maneuvring is exercised to prevent accident. These fogs frequently are so dense that no object can be seen much farther off than a ship's length; consequently, at such times cruising and whaling in the bays is full of excitemen and anxiety. A ship may be lying quietly at anchor one moment, and the next be surrounded by a field of ice, or the close proximity of another vessel may be revealed by the splashing of the water under her bow. Then comes the blowing of horns, the ringing of bells, the firing of guns, or pounding on empty casks, to indicate the ship's position, in order to avoid collision.

      Neither fog nor drifting ice, however, prevents the whalers from vigorously prosecuting their work. In thick weather, when neither the spout of the whale nor the animal itself can be seen, its hollow-sounding respiration may be heard a long distance. In such instances the boats approach as near as can be judged where the sound was heard, and if the animal is found and captured, it is at the risk of the boats coming in contact with passing ships, ice, or what not – and, too, not knowing with any degree of certainty what part of the bay they may be in, the first and main object being to capture the whale at all hazards. This being done, it is taken in tow by the boats, or is anchored. Then, if the crew can not discover their own ship, but meet with another, the custom is to go on board to eat or sleep, if necessary, and when recruited, or the fog lifts so as to give them a chance of finding their own vessel, they are supplied with provisions, if needed, until they

can reach her. If anchored, one boat always remains with the whale while the others go in search of the ship. As soon as found, the master, learning of the capture, makes every effort to work his vessel to the dead animal; or, if that can not be done, every favorable tide is improved to tow the whale to the ship, where it is cut in and tried out in the usual manner. As the season advances the ice disappears, leaving more room for cruising with the vessels, when the fleet becomes scattered, and the features of the whaling change. The boats are then kept more of the time on board, look-outs are stationed at the mast-heads, and the whaling is principally "done from the ship." Sometimes two boats are sent to look for whales in an adjoining bay. Meanwhile the nights have become longer. Then comes the "night-whaling." The phosphorescent light caused by the whale's movements in the water shows quite distinctly his whereabout, and, the Bowhead whales being easy of capture compared with other kinds, "night-whaling" is often successfully pursued.

      We have spoken of the Bowheads as being comparatively easy of capture, but it must not be inferred that the pursuit is not often tedious or unsuccessful , nor is the attack made without risk of life or limb, as well as in other kinds of whaling. The Bowheads, compared with other species of whales that are pursued, are considered very shy and timid. After the ice leaves the bays, until the fall winds begin, much calm weather is experienced; and, although we have frequently seen large numbers of whales spouting among many boats scattered over the water, not a single animal could be approached near enough to "dart at" with the hand-harpoon, or to present a fair chance to shoot a bomb-lance into it, notwithstanding the boats were rigged with extra large sails, in order to take advantage of the light airs or winds that may prevail in midsummer. The use of oars or paddles would be quite sure to frighten the whales, and when there is not sufficient wind "to sail on to them" there is but little or no chance of "getting fast." After the "irons" are firmly planted in the animal, or, as we frequently hear whalemen say, "after the whale has been fastened to, good and solid," down the creature may go to the bottom, and there roll until either the "irons" are torn from its body or the line is wound about it, and the valuable prize may be lost. Cases have occurred where the animal, after being "fastened to," has darted to the depths beneath in such a state of trepidation as to unheedingly strike the rocks or sand, with so much force as to dislocate its head-bones, and cause instant death.

      The breeding-places of the Bowheads seem to be a matter of conjecture among the most observing and experienced whaling-masters. The only place known has already been mentioned, in the vicinity of Tchantar Bay; and a difference of

opinion exists as to whether the "Poggies" before mentioned are calves, or whether they are not a "scrag" species, which have a corresponding relation to the full-grown Bowheads that the "scrag" Right Whale has to the larger grades of that species. Admitting, however, that they are the young ones, their numbers are comparatively few to the numerous progeny that are supposed to be brought forth by the cows during each season. Another singular fact is, that no Bowheads of the Okhotsk Sea have ever been seen passing in or out the passages of the Kurile Islands, or from the Okhotsk to Behring Sea, or Arctic whales passing to the Okhotsk. It has been a mystery among the most experienced whalemen, as to where the Bowheads resorted to bring forth their young, or where the young remained until grown to a considerable degree of maturity; but within a few years, whales have been seen around Point Barrow with young calves, and that remote line of open water, inaccessible to ships, between the summer ice-border and the northern shores of the American continent, from Point Barrow to Banks' Land, doubtless affords ample herding and breeding places for the mysticetes and rorquals which are indigenous to those icy regions.

CHAPTER VI.

RIGHT WHALE OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST.

      This great northern baleen whale, in its principal proportions, resembles the Balaena mysticetus. The latter, however, is destitute of the protuberance called the "bonnet," upon the anterior extremity of its beak-like upper jaw, which is a peculiarly prominent feature of the Balaena Sieboldii. The color of the Right Whale is generally black, yet there are many individuals with more or less white about the throat and pectorals, and sometimes they are pied all over. Its average adult length may be calculated at sixty feet – it rarely attains to seventy feet – and the two sexes vary but little in size. Its head is very nearly one-third the length of the whole animal, and the upper intermediate portion, or the part between the spiracles and "bonnet," has not that even spherical form, or the smooth and glossy surface present with the Bowhead, but is more or less ridgy crosswise. Both lips and head have wart-like bunches moderately developed, and in some cases the upper surface of the head and fins is infested with parasitical crustaceans. Its tongue yields oil like the mysticetus, but its baleen is shorter and of a coarser and less flexible nature. The average product of oil of the Balaena Sieboldii may be set down at one hundred and thirty barrels; yet there have been many individuals of this species, captured in early times, that yielded from two hundred to two hundred and eighty barrels. The amount of bone ranges from one thousand to fifteen hundred pounds. In former years, the Right Whales were found on the coast of Oregon, and occasionally in large numbers; but their chief resort was upon what is termed the "Kodiak Ground," the limits of which extended from Vancouver's Island northwestward to the Aleutian Chain, and from the coast westward to longitude 150°. In the southern portion of Behring Sea, also upon the coast of Kamschatka, and in the Okhotsk Sea, they congregated in large numbers. The few frequenting the coast of California are supposed to have been merely stragglers from their northern haunts. Some, indeed, have been taken (from February to April) as far south as

the Bay of San Sebastian Viscaino, and about Cedros or Cerros Island, both places being near the parallel of 29° north latitude; while on the North-western Coast they are captured by the whalers from April to September, inclusive. The Balaena Sieboldii is regarded as being a distinct species from the southern Right Whale, and is universally known, by American whalemen, as the "North-west Whale." This distinguished baleen animal of the north, in its geographical distribution, ranges to the Japan Sea and Gulf of Tartary; but how many species or varieties are included under this name is not within our province to decide. Our observations, however, make it certain that there is a "scrag" Right Whale in the North Pacific which corresponds very nearly to that of the southern ocean, known under the technical name of Balaena gibbosa? and which yields a paltry amount of oil.

      The time of gestation with the Balaena Sieboldii is not known, but is supposed to be nearly one year; the dam usually producing but one young at a birth, although, in some instances, twins have been observed. The new-born "sucker" is about one-fourth the length of the parent animal, which relative proportions are approximately uniform in all the whalebone whales which we have had the oportunity of examining. It has ever been a matter of mysterious conjecture with the most philosophical whalemen, where the northern Right Whales go to bring forth their young, and whither they migrate during the winter months. That they do not go into the southern hemisphere is well known, and it is equally certain that but a few stragglers, even, reach within a number of degrees of the northern tropic in their wanderings. The Esquimaux about the north-western shores of Behring Sea speak about the Balaena mysticetus resorting to the bays when the "small ice comes," and they look forward to that season as a time of plenty, and reap a kind of marine harvest by catching numbers of them, thus securing an abundant supply of food for winter store. It seems, therefore, beyond question, that the mysticetus is quite at home in that region at the beginning of the Arctic winter, and the immense numbers of Bowheads and Right Whales that would necessarily appear in the temperate latitudes, if they migrated southward, would be sure to arrest attention of passing navigators, who frequently go far north, even in the winter season, to make their passages from China and Japan. Some have asserted these animals probably congregate around the borders of the drifting or field ice, which joins the open water of the Pacific about the Kurile and Aleutian Islands. All agree that they do not pass the tropics and reach the southern ocean. The southern Right Whales resort to the bays in that region to bring forth their young, and formerly were sought for in the inland waters of those high southern latitudes, where many a ship quickly completed her cargo by bay-whaling. But no bay

yet been discovered north of the equator, in the Pacific, where the north-western Right Whales go to calve; and, as before mentioned, nothing is definitely known of their winter resort. The last seen of them in high latitudes, by whalemen, is on their return from the Arctic Ocean, when they are found in the vicinity of St. Paul's Island, Behring Sea, in the month of October, and these are usually very large. In view of all the facts we have been able to gather, there is little doubt that these gigantic animals, although of another group, have the same constitutional habits as the Sperm Whales, of bringing forth their young at any time or place that nature may require, without resorting to sheltered inland retreats. In the Okhotsk Sea, the Right Whale is found toward the northern borders in the early part of the season; later, the ships cruise in the southern quarter, about the Kurile Islands.

      We find the habits of these animals, when roaming over the ocean, full of interest. They are often met with singly in their wanderings; at other times in pairs, or triplets, and scattered over the surface of the water as far as the eye can discern from the mast-head. Toward the last of the season they are seen in large numbers, crowded together. These herds are called "gams," and they are regarded by experienced whalemen as an indication that the whales will soon leave the ground. Their manner of respiration is to blow seven to nine times at a "rising," then "turning flukes" (elevating them six or eight feet out of the water), they go down and remain twelve or fifteen minutes. It is remarked, however, since these whales have been so generally pursued, that their action in this respect has somewhat changed. When frightened by the approach of a boat, they have a trick of hollowing the back, which causes the blubber to become slack, thus preventing the harpoon from penetrating. Many whales have been "missed," owing to the boatsteerer darting at this portion of the body. Having been chased every successive season for years, these animals have become very wild and difficult to get near to, especially in calm weather. The manner of propelling the boat at such times is by paddling, and when there is a breeze, by sailing, if practicable, using the oars only when it is not possible to use sails or paddles. Sometimes, during the first of the season, the animals are very wild and shy, and for days in succession the boats may be in hot pursuit without success.

      Among right-whalemen there is a difference of opinion about "going on to a whale,"^* whether it is best to get out of or into its wake, to avoid "gallying" it. As regards safety, some prefer to have a good breeze; then, setting all practicable

sail, "run over" the animal to leeward, at the same time that the harpoon is thrown. The whale, after being struck, often runs to windward, thrashing its flukes in every direction. After going a short distance, it frequently stops, or "brings to," "sweeping" as it is said, "from eye to eye," and at the same time making a terrific noise called "bellowing;" this sound is compared to that of a mammoth bull, and adds much to the excitement of the chase and capture. Others will not stop until they are hamstrung, as it were, by "spading." The spading process is performed by hauling the boat near enough to cut the cords that connect the body and the flukes, either on the top or underneath, as the attitude of the animal may be. A large vein runs along the underside of the "small," terminating at the junction of the caudal fin, which, if cut, will give the creature its death-wound. The instrument used for cutting is called a "boat-spade," which may be compare to a very wide chisel, with a handle six or eight feet long. Sometimes the cords are so effectually severed that the flukes become entirely useless, and still the animal hardly slackens its speed perceptibly, showing, evidently, that its pectorals are powerful propellers. Another mode of stopping the whale is by throwing a number of harpoons, detached from the line, into the "small;" a kind of torture that would, if the bleeding victim could speak, cause it to entreat its tormentors to put an end to its misery. Yet not unfrequently, after being lacerated on every side, it holds its human pursuers at bay by assuming a vertical attitude, with flukes uppermost, which are dashed in every direction with a furious swoop, hurling sheets of spray and foaming water into the boats, and often nearly filling them. But when once "brought to" it will remain quite stationary for a few minutes, or roll from side to side, giving the officer of the boat a good opportunity to shoot a bomb-lance, or use the hand-lance with good effect, which soon dispatches it. Sometimes, however, one of these huge animals, in spite of the bomb-guns, harpoons, and all the whaling-gear combined, will, after being "fastened to," make the best of its way to windward with the boat, taking it so far from the ship as to oblige the men to cut the line and give up the chase. Of late, Greener's gun has been used to some extent in its capture. But before harpoon or bomb guns came into general use, the whalemen of the North-western Coast made such havoc among these colossal animals (which were regarded as the most vicious of their kind), as to have nearly extirpated them, or driven them to some unknown feeding-ground.

CHAPTER VII.

THE SULPHURBOTTOM WHALE.

      The largest whale found upon the coast, and the largest known, is the Sulphurbottom. Never having had an opportunity of obtaining an accurate measurement of its proportions, we can only state them approximately. Length, sixty to one hundred feet.^* Its body is comparatively more slender than that of the California Gray. Its pectorals are proportionately small, even in comparison with the Sperm Whale's, which in size and shape they very nearly resemble, being short and rounded at their extremities. Its caudal fin bears about the same proportion to the body as does that of the Finback, while its dorsal is much smaller and nearer the posterior extremity. Its head is more elongated than the Finner's; its baleen is broader at the base, the color being a jet black in several specimens we have examined, while others were of a bluish hue. The Sulphurbottom, in its food and manner of feeding, is like the other whales of its genus. It is a true rorqual, with folds beneath the anterior portion of the animal, which are a series of fine longitudinal furrows. The color of this, the greatest whale of the ocean, is somewhat lighter than the dull black of the lesser rorquals, and in some instances it is a very light brown, approaching to white; but underneath it is of a yellowish cast or sulphur color, whence the name "Sulphurbottom" is supposed to have arisen. Its coating of blubber is unevenly distributed over its body, massively covering the top of the head, but more thinly disseminated over the main portion of the trunk; while the posterior extremity, between the trunk and caudal fin, is more heavily infolded with the oily covering than all the rest.

      A Sulphurbottom whale is found in the Atlantic as well as in the Pacific. The Pacific species occurs at all seasons on the coasts of the Californias. During the months from May to September, inclusive, they are often found in large numbers close in with the shore, at times playing about ships at anchor in the open roadsteads, near islands, or capes, but as a general rule they do not approach vessels with the same boldness that the Finback does, although we have observed them following in a vessel's wake for several leagues.^*

      It is rarely that the Sulphurbottom "bolts" or "breaches," yet, when engaged in this sprightly act, the animal presents itself in that degree of magnificence which is commensurate with its inordinate activity and immense proportions. The Sulphurbottom is considered the swiftest whale afloat, and for this reason is but seldom pursued, and still more rarely taken. Captain Thomas, of the bark Lagrange, in 1857, off San Bartolome Bay, caught one by first shooting a bomb-lance into a vital part; and although the whale ran a long distance before "turning up," the pursuers were enabled to keep trace of it among the large number around by its "spouting blood." When the animal was nearly exhausted, the boats appoached near enough to "get fast," and the capture was completed. This individual yielded about ninety barrels of oil, and measured eighty-five feet in length. The schooner Page, of San Francisco, succeeded in taking several Sulphurbottom whales near Ascension Island, the capture being made with the bomb-gun and lance. Notwithstanding that a large proportion of these whales sunk as soon as dead, the whalemen were enabled to save them, the water being of moderate depth, in consequence of which they rose to the surface before decomposition was far advanced. The size of those taken by the Page compared favorably with the one taken by the Lagrange.

      Several days' trial were made in the brig Boston, in 1858, off Cerros Island, to capture these animals. It was in the month of July, and the sea, as far as the eye could discern, was marked with their huge forms and towering spouts. Ten were "bombed" by the best shooters, who affirmed that they "chose their chance," but as soon as the gun was discharged the whale would disappear, and that was the last trace seen of it, except a patch of foam, sometimes mixed with blood. On the last day of pursuit, toward evening, another vessel appeared in the offing, and approached within a mile or less, when the last trial bomb was fired, and the men in the boats looked eagerly to the rising of the wounded whale, but in vain. A signal was made from the approaching ship that they had seen the animal, as it "broke water" close to their vessel, when it soon rolled over dead, and sunk. The swiftness of the Sulphurbottom under water, as demonstrated at this time, appeared to make pursuit impracticable. Doubtless, several of those fired at received mortal wounds, or were killed outright, but their propensity to sink, and also to "run under water," baffled the skill of the whalers to secure them.

      On a second voyage of the Page, six of these immense creatures were taken by the bomb-gun and lance, off the port of San Quentin, Lower California, where the moderate depth of water was favorable for the pursuit. Large numbers of them were found on this ground, where they had been attracted by the swarms of sar-

dines and prawns with which the waters were enlivened; and the whales, when in a state of lassitude from excessive feeding, would frequently remain nearly motionless ten to twenty minutes at a time, thus giving the whaleman an excellent opportunity to shoot his bomb-lance into a vital part, causing almost instant death.

      The enormous size of the Sibbaldius sulfureus is not easily to be comprehended by the reader, when compared even with the lesser rorquals, or the mysticetus, or the Cachalot. In 1862, the whalemen at Monterey, California, killed one of these immense animals which measured ninety-two feet in length. Before they could tow it to the station, it became "blasted;"^* but on arrival, no effort was spared to strip the colossal prize of its fatty covering. Accordingly, their "purchases" were applied to roll the swollen creature over upon the beach; but in so doing, the capstan, which was firmly placed on the hank, and had lifted many a large whale, was torn up and the "falls" were parted. Finally the whalemen gave up the undertaking, and only cut off the fat that could be reached above water. In contemplating this, the greatest whale of the ocean, one can but admire its prominent characteristics, which are its enormous yet symmetrical proportions, and the muscular development which enables it to excel in velocity all its congeners, while its whole bearing indicates its superiority to all the other Cetaceans. It glides over the surface of the ocean, occasionally displaying its entire length. When it respires, the volume of its vaporous breath ascends to a height which reveals at once, to the observer, the presence of that leviathan of the deep, whose capture baffles the practical skill of the most experienced whalers. When "rounding" to descend to the depths below, it throws its ponderous flukes high above the waves, with a swoop that is well in keeping with its matchless strength and vigor.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SPERM WHALE.

      This, the largest of the toothed Cetaceans, is known to English and American whalemen as the Sperm Whale, to the Germans as the Pottfisch, and to the French as the Cachalot. It widely differs from all others of its order, both in figure and habits. The fully matured animal equals, if it does not exceed, the Bowhead, or Great Polar Whale, in magnitude and in commercial value. The adult female, however, is only about one-third or one-fourth the size of the largest male. She is likewise more slender in form, and has an effeminate appearance. The time of gestation is supposed to be ten months, and she seldom produces more than one young at a birth – never more than two – and these are brought forth at any time or place that nature may demand. The new-born cub is about one-fourth the length of the mother. It obtains its nourishment from two teats, situated one on each side of the vaginal opening. In giving suck, it is said the female reclines on her side, when the calf seizes the teat in the corner of its mouth, thereby giving the milk-food immediate passage to its throat. The length of time that the young follow the dam is not known.

      The largest males measure from eighty to eighty-four feet. The ponderous head is nearly one-third of the whole bulk of the animal, and over one quarter of its length. The opening of the mouth is about five-sixths the length of the head; the lower jaw, from the expansion of the condyles, contracts abruptly to a narrow symphysis, and is studded on each side with twenty-two or twenty-four strong, sharp, and conical teeth, fitting to the furrow, or cavity, in the upper jaw, which is destitute of, or contains only rudimentary teeth. The tongue, which is usually of a whitish color, "is not capable of much protrusion." The throat, however, is large, and is said to be capacious enough to receive the body of a man. The eyes are placed a little above and behind the angle of the mouth. A few inches behind the eyes are the openings of the ears, which are not over one-fourth of an inch in

diameter. Above, and at the junction of the head with the body proper, is a swell called the "bunch of the neck." About midway between this protuberant and the caudal fin, is another and larger bunch, called the "hump;" then follows a succession of smaller processes along the "small," toward the posterior extremity, which is termed the "ridge." The pectorals, or side-fins, are placed a little behind and below the eyes, and in size rarely exceed six feet in length and three feet in width. The caudal fin is about six feet in breadth, and measures twelve to fifteen feet between the extremities, or about one-sixth the length of the whole animal. Unlike the baleen whales, the Cachalot has but one spiracle, or spout-hole, which is placed near the anterior and upper extremity of the head, a little upon the left side; its external form is nearly like the letter S. This fissure in the adult is ten or twelve inches in length. The color of the Sperm Whale is generally black, or blackish-brown above; a little lighter upon the sides and below, except on the breast, where it becomes a silvery gray. Some examples, however, are piebald. The oldest males are frequently well-marked with gray about the nose, or upper portion of the head, and when this is indicated, they are called "gray-headed"

      In the young Sperm Whales, as in the young of all Cetaceans, the blackskin, or epidermis, is much heavier than in the adults, it being half an inch in thickness, or thereabouts, while it does not exceed a quarter of an inch on the old whale. As age advances, the skin becomes more furrowed. Beneath the blackskin lies the rich coating of fat, or blubber, which yields the valuable oil of commerce. The head produces nearly one-third of all the oil obtained. Next to and above the bone of the upper jaw (which is termed the "coach," or "sleigh"), is a huge mass of cartilaginous, elastic, tough fat, which is called the "junk." Above the "junk," on the right side of the head, is a large cavity, or sack, termed the "case," which contains oil in its naturally fluid state, together with the granulated substance known as "spermaceti." From this capacious hidden receptacle, as much as fifteen barrels of "head-matter" has been obtained. The "ambergris," which is so highly prized, is nothing more than the retained anal concretion of a diseased whale. On the left side of the cranium, above the "junk," is the breathing-passage, or nostril, of the whale. This, with the "case," is protected by a thick, tough, elastic substance called the "head-skin," which is proof against the harpoon.

      We now come to the general habits of this gigantic animal, relative to its movements in the vast oceans of the globe. Among the whole order of Cetaceans, there is no other which respires with the same regularity as the Cachalot. When emerging to the surface, the first portion of the animal seen is the region of the

hump; then it raises its head, and respires slowly for the space of about three seconds, sending forth, diagonally, a volume of whitish vapor, like an escape of steam; this is called the "spout," which, in ordinary weather, may be seen from the mast-head at a distance of three to five miles. In respiring at its leisure, the animal sometimes makes no headway through the water; at other times it moves quietly along at the rate of about two or three miles an hour; or, if "making a passage" from one feeding-ground to another, it may accelerate its velocity. When in progressive motion (after "blowing"), hardly an instant is required for inspiration, when the animal dips its head a little, and momentarily disappears; then it rises again to blow, as before, each respiration being made with great regularity. The number of its spoutings, when in a state of quietude, depends on the size of the animal: varying in the adult females and the younger of both sexes from the oldest and largest males. The same may be said as to the period of time it remains upon or beneath the surface of the ocean. With the largest bulls, the time occupied in performing one expiration and one inspiration is from ten to twelve seconds, and the animal will generally blow from sixty to seventy-five times at a "rising," remaining upon the surface of the sea about twelve minutes. As soon as "his spoutings are out," he pitches head-foremost downward; then "rounding out," turns his flukes high in the air, and, when gaining nearly a perpendicular attitude, descends to a great depth, and there remains from fifty minutes to an hour and a quarter.

      While on a cruise in the bark Rio Grande around the Galapagos Islands, in 1853, a large Cachalot was captured, which yielded eighty-five barrels of oil. This animal was pursued from eleven o'clock A. M. to four P. M., during which time it spouted, or "blowed," very regularly, fifty-five times at each "rising" while on the surface, and when he descended was not visible again for fifty-five minutes. All this time he was going a direct course at the rate of three miles an hour. The smaller and younger whales, however, are not so regular in their time of remaining upon or below the surface of the water, and, as before mentioned, they spout a less number of times. They generally continue above the water one-fourth or one-fifth of the time consumed by the others, making thirty or forty spouts whil up, and remaining under water twenty to thirty minutes. But when the Cachalot becomes alarmed, or is sporting in the ocean, its actions are widely different. If frightened, it has the faculty of instantly sinking, although nearly in a horizontal attitude (as the sailors say, "he can let go and go down in a jiffy"). When merely startled, it will frequently assume a perpendicular position, with the greater portion of its head above water, to look and listen; or, when lying on the surface, it will sweep

around from side to side with its flukes, to ascertain whether there is any object within reach. At other times, when at play, it will elevate its flukes high in the air, then strike them down with great force, which raises the water into spray and foam about it; this is termed "lobtailing." Oftentimes it descends a few fathoms beneath the waves; then, giving a powerful shoot nearly out of the water at an angle of forty-five degrees or less, falls on its side, or leaps bodily out in a semi-lateral attitude, coming down with a heavy splash, producing a pyramid of foam which may be seen from the mast-head, on a clear day, at least ten miles, and is of great advantage to the whaler in searching for his prey. These singular antics of the Sperm Whale are said to be performed in order to rid itself of a troublesome parasite, known among the whale-fishers by the name of "Suckfish;" but the animal is seldom infested with the parasitic crustacea which are indigenous to the rorquals and Right Whales.

      Many have the impression that the Sperm Whale is found but rarely out of the limits of tropical or temperate waters, but we know that the largest Cachalots have often been taken as far south as 56° of latitude, both in the Pacific and Atlantic, and as far north in the Pacific as Cape Ommany, which is in latitude 56° 12'.

      We may further add, that it is one of the few species of the larger Cetaceans which inhabit every ocean not bound with icy fetters during the rigors of winter, and although great numbers are found in the cold latitudes, they also delight to bask in the equatorial waters under a tropical sun.^* It is true, however, that but few are met with in the far northern limits of the Atlantic or the Pacific, compared with the number which inhabit the great range of the southern seas. This, however, may be easily accounted for, as there is no northern thoroughfare by which these whales of passage can migrate to or from the Atlantic or Pacific, while at the south they are continually passing to and fro from ocean to ocean throughout the year.

      The Cachalots are gregarious, and they are often seen in schools numbering from fifteen or twenty up to hundreds. The oldest and largest males, however, for the greater part of the year roam alone; yet there is no lack of instances where

these monsters have been found in herds by themselves; but the usual assemblage is made up of males and females – the latter with their young. At such times two or three large bulls are in attendance, which lead the van. The female is quite solicitous for her playful offspring, and when pursued, the mother may be seen assisting it to escape by partially supporting it on one of her pectorals. The females likewise manifest much sympathy for each other, for when one of their number is attacked by the boats, they all "bring to," and remain, usually for some time, with their dying companion; by this means a number of whales are often captured from the same school. The young bulls periodically go in large herds; but, unlike the females, if one of their band is harpooned, its cowardly associates make off in great trepidation. When individually attacked, however, it makes a desperate struggle for life, and often escapes after a hard contest. Nevertheless, it is not an unusual occurrence for the oldest males to be taken with but little effort on the part of the whaler. After being struck, the animal will oftentimes lie for a few moments on the water as if paralyzed, which affords the active man of the lance opportunity to dart his weapon effectually, and complete the capture. It is said that the Cachalots are endowed with the faculty of communicating with each other in times of danger, when miles (and some observers say leagues) distant. If this be true, the mode of communication rests instinctively within their own contracted brains.

      It has been the general belief that the Sperm Whale is excessively timid; but, if this is its general character, there are many exceptions among the larger males, for when attacked, they have in repeated instances turned upon their pursuers, in the most defiant manner, and their own disfigured jaws – which are their principal weapons of defense – prove that they either engage in desperate contentions with their kind, or with some unknown leviathan inhabiting the deep. Moreover, it is, we believe, a well-established fact, that ships have been sunk by the deliberate assaults of vicious, gray-headed, old Cachalots.^*

      It is the opinion of many experienced and observing whalemen – with whom we concur – that the Sperm Whale has a higher organization than any other species of Cetacea. Its massive form is composed of bone, flesh, and sinew, which has a finer texture than that of the rorqual or the mysticetus. The latter subsist on minute crustacea and small fishes, skimmed as it were from the surface of the seas and inland waters. The mouth of the Cachalot is armed with teeth of ivory, finely set, for the purpose of prehension, and the animal is endowed with the power of descending to the remote caverns of the ocean in search of its prey, and remaining there a length of time unequaled by any of its congeners. The principal food of the Sperm Whale is familiarly named by the whalers "squid;" which includes one or more species of cuttle-fishes (cephalopods). The animal's manner of pursuing its prey is not definitely known; but several high authorities maintain, that after descending to the desired depth it drops its lower jaw nearly to a right angle with the body, thereby exhibiting its polished white teeth, which attract within its reach the swimming food, while the creature moves along through the ocean's depths; the moment its prey comes in contact with the expanded jaw,

      it is instantly crushed, and a portion or all is swallowed. This hypothesis of the mode in which the animal feeds may be correct. As to the nature of its food there is no question, for it is well known that the cephalopods are its main dependence; yet occasionally the codfish, albicore, and bonito, are laid under contribution.^* But the true and natural way in which this great rover of the hidden

depths seeks and devours its animal food, is still tinged with mystery. In past years it was commonly believed that the Cachalot's home was in the fathomless depths of the ocean, and that only a few stragglers were occasionally met with near coast waters of moderate depth. But we find abundant proof, and from our own observations, too, that they are met with and have been captured in waters

where the soundings were not over one hundred and fifty fathoms, and frequently not over sixty or seventy: for example, off San Bartolome Bay, coast of California; also about Point Abraojos on the same coast, and near Asuncion Island, which is midway between the first named points.

      It has been previously remarked that the elongated under jaw of the Sperm Whale, with its bristling teeth, is its chief arm of attack and defense, and the agile manner in which the animal uses it when upon or near the surface is quite sur-

prising. It opens and shuts its mouth, if need be, in a twinkling, or it throws the lower jaw down to nearly a right angle with its body, or sways it from side to side at an astonishing angle, when we take into consideration the distance between the condyles at their junction with the animal's head. When the creature essays to grasp a large object on the water, it instantly rolls over to bite; but does it necessarily follow that the same attitude must be maintained when obtaining its food in the abyss beneath? Or is it impossible that this protruding jaw of massive bone and

ivory is not sometimes employed to remove the kraken from its slimy bed? Be that as it may, however, it is our belief that all Cetaceans occasionally resort to the bottom of the ocean, sea, or inland waters, as well as rise to the surface to breathe and display their various attitudes. We also regard the Cachalot as able to descend to a greater depth and remain there a longer time than any other whale; and that it evinces, in its characteristic movements or evolutions, a superiority over all other cetaceous animals that have come under our observation.

CHAPTER IX.

THE DOLPHINS.

      In addition to the whalebone whales, and the Cachalot, which have been described in the preceding pages as frequenting the North-western Coast of America, many species of Dolphins are also found. Those coming under our observation are known as the Blackfish (Globiocephalus Scammonii), the Killer (0rca), the Whitefish (Beluga), the Bay Porpoise (Phocaena vomerina), the Striped or Common Porpoise (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), Baird's Dolphin (Delphinus Bairdii), the Right Whale Porpoise (Leucorhamphus borealis), the Cowfish (Tursiops Gillii), White-headed or Mottled Grampus (Grampus Stearnsii), the Bottle-nosed Grampus, the Panama Grampus, the Puget Sound Grampus, the San Diego Bay Grampus, the Square-headed Grampus, the Brown-sided Dolphin of Santa Barbara Channel, and the Narwhal (Monodon monoceros). All these species are covered with a coating of fat, or blubber, varying in thickness from one-half of one inch to four inches.

SECTION I. — THE BLACKFISH.

      Blackfish are generally found wherever Sperm Whales resort, but in many instances they congregate in much larger numbers, and range nearer the coast, than the regular feeding-grounds of the latter. Although subsisting almost entirely upon the same kind of food – the "squid," or octopus – still, at times, when schools of them visit bays or lagoons, they prey upon the small fish swarming in those shallow waters. In Magdalena Bay we have seen them in moderate numbers, appearing as much at home miles from sea as the Common Porpoise or the Cowfish. They collect in schools, from ten or twenty up to hundreds, and when going along upon the surface of the sea, there is less of the rising and falling movement than with the Porpoise, and their spoutings, before "going down," are irregular, both in number and time between respirations. If the animal is moving quickly, much of the head and body is exposed. Whalemen call this going "eye out." In low latitudes,

during perfectly calm weather, it is not unfrequent to find a herd of them lying quite still, huddled together promiscuously, making no spout and seemingly taking a rest. Sometimes they assume a perpendicular attitude, with a portion of the head above the water, as does the Sperm Whale.

      On the 14th of December, 1862, on the coast of Lower California, in latitude 31°, land ten miles distant, a school of Blackfish was "raised." The boats were immediately lowered and gave chase, and three fish were taken. The largest one was a male, and measured accurately as follows:

      The breadth of the body, just forward of the side fins, was twenty-two inches. The number of teeth on each side of the upper jaw varies from ten to twelve; in the lower one from eight to ten; the protruding parts being from one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch in length. The outline of the head shows its shape laterally, and also the spiracle, which is of half-circle shape, opening downward as the spout ascends, and closing upward when it has escaped. The jet does not rise above two or three feet, and its direction is at a right angle with the body, when not affected by the wind. From all that we can learn of their breeding habits, they bring forth their young at any time, or in any part of the ocean, as necessity may require. Off the Gulf of Dulce, coast of Guatemala, in February, 1853, a foetus a yard long was taken from an adult measuring thirteen feet. In the same school from which this female was captured, we saw several young

ones, apparently about the same size as the above mentioned foetus, and doubtless this animal, had it not been disturbed, would have soon played in its native element. The Blackfish is taken for its oil, which is, however, much inferior to that of the Sperm Whale. The yield is small compared to its size, it being from ten to twenty-five feet in length, and producing from ten gallons to ten barrels of oil. The blubber varies in thickness from one to four inches; its color is nearly white. The flesh of the Blackfish is like coarse beef, and after being exposed to the air for a few days, then properly cooked, is by no means unsavory food, and is often used by whalemen as a substitute for the fresh meat of land animals. The same may be said of the different species of porpoises. Formerly, Blackfish were found in large numbers on the coast of Lower California, particularly about Cape St. Lucas, and up the Gulf of California; but probably, from the same cause as made mention of concerning Sperm Whales, these grounds are now seldom frequented by them.

      Although the Blackfish is taken for its oil, it is not an object of pursuit by the whaler, like the balaenas and the Cachalot. Sperm whalers do not lower their boats for Blackfish, when on Sperm Whale ground, unless the day is far spent, or there is little prospect of "seeing whales." The northern or polar whale-ships pay but little attention to them, except, perhaps, when passing the time "between seasons," cruising within or about the tropics. Occasionally a small vessel is fitted out for hunting the Blackfish and Sperm Whale, carrying a proportionately limited crew, thereby making the capture of this species of the smaller Cetaceans profitable. When a ship's boat is lowered for Blackfish, the chase begins as for other whales; although many masters have their boats all ready, and run just ahead of, or into a "school," with the ship, before lowering, by which means the animals are so frightened or "gallied," that they "bring to," or move slowly in all directions, giving the boats, which are instantly lowered, a good chance to "get fast." The harpoon frequently kills the fish; if not, a few darts with the hand-lance dispatch it. As soon as it is dead, the prize almost invariably sinks; and if the ship is close at hand, it is towed to the vessel at once; but if a considerable distance away, it is either made fast to the "loggerhead" at the stern of the boat, or a buoy is tied to it and left, to be afterward recovered; the boats still continuing the chase. In this way quite a number are captured from one school. The favorite resorts of Blackfish, along the coasts of North and South America, on the Pacific side, are off Guatemala, Equador, and Peru; yet their geographical disribution is occasionally extended to high northern and southern latitudes.

SECTION II. — THE ORCA, OR KILLER.

      The Orca – a cetaceous animal, commonly known as the "Killer" – is one of the largest members of the Dolphin family. The length of the adult males may average twenty feet, and the females fifteen feet. The body is covered with a coating of white fat, or blubber, yielding a pure, transparent oil. An extremely prominent dorsal fin, placed about two-fifths of the length of the body from the end of the animal's beak, distinguishes it from all other Dolphins. In the largest species (Orca rectipinna) this prominent upper limb stands quite erect, reaches the height of six feet, is dagger-shaped, and frequently turns over sideways at its extremity. In the animals of more moderate size, the fin is broader at the base, less in altitude, and is slightly curved backward, while upon others it is shorter still, and broader in proportion at its junction with the back, and is more falcated.

      The Orca rectipinna, so far as we have observed, is more slender in its proportions, and is less marked with white or light spots than the others. It is usually, in color, jet-black above and lighter below; yet many of inferior size are most beautifully variegated, the colors being almost as vividly contrasted as in the stripes of the tiger of India. Some individuals have a clear white spot, of oblong shape, just behind the eyes, and a maroon band, of nearly crescent shape, adorning the back, behind the dorsal fin, which it more than half encircles. In others, the marks behind the eyes and dorsal are of a yellowish tinge, and usually, when this occurs, a small patch of light shade borders the semicircled exterior spout-hole. The dorsal band is somewhat pointed at the centre of its convex side, and, when looked at from behind the creature, nearly assumes the form of a heart. The under side of the pectorals and the caudal fin are generally of a milk-white or cream color, bordered by a darker shade; and the nether portion of the body is white, with patches of the same color edging the sides. The head of the Orca is more pointed than that of the Blackfish (Globiocephalus), but less so than that of the Bay Porpoise (Phocaena vomerina), to which it bears a resemblance. Its eyes appear sharp and prominent in comparison with other Cetaceans, which in a modified degree indicates the animal's disposition. Its mouth is armed with strong, sharp, conical teeth, which interlock, like those of the smaller Dolphins,^* and its whole

formation combines great strength with agility – if we exclude its towering upper fin, with which the largest are furnished. This protuberance, on account of its extraordinary elongation, imparts to the animal a very unwieldy appearance; and, as it vibrates in the air when the creature rolls to and fro, or makes its sidelong bounds over the waves, appears to be a great burden, and to require much effort on the part of the wearer to keep right-side up. Its two spiracles, which unite in one at their orifice, situated above and behind the eyes, are covered by a cartilaginous valve, which opens and closes on its posterior side at every respiration. The vapor or spout emitted is "low and bushy," like that of the Blackfish. The animal is entirely free from parasites, its scarf-skin being beautifully smooth and glossy.

      Until recently, we were under the impression that the short-finned Killers upon the western coast of North America were inhabitants especially of the frosty regions; but recent observations prove that they frequent both the high and low latitudes. Indeed, they may be regarded as marine beasts, that roam over every ocean; entering bays and lagoons, where they spread terror and death among the mammoth balaenas and the smaller species of dolphins, as well as pursuing the seal and walrus, devouring, in their marauding expeditions up swift rivers, numberless salmon or other large fishes that may come in their way. It is well known that there are several species of Orcas, incident to their wide geographical distribution, which includes every zone and hemisphere; but those we have described are, to our knowledge, found in the waters of the Pacific, in the Okhotsk and Behring seas, and through Behring Strait into the Arctic Ocean. The habits of the Killers exhibit a boldness and cunning peculiar to their carnivorous propensities. At times they are seen in schools, undulating over the waves – two, three, six, or eight abreast – and, with the long, pointed fins above their arched backs, together with their varied marks and colors, they present a pleasing and somewhat military aspect. But generally they go in small squads – less than a dozen – alternately showing themselves upon the surface of the water, or gliding just below, when nothing will be visible but their projecting dorsals; or they disport themselves by rolling, tumbling, and leaping nearly out of water, or cutting various antics with their flukes. At such times, they usually move rapidly over the surface of the sea, and soon disappear in the distance.

      Both the high and low finned Orcas are found in the same school; yet we have occasionally seen those with the lowest and most falcated fins exclusively by themselves. Three or four of these voracious animals do not hesitate to grapple with the largest baleen whales; and it is surprising to see those leviathans of the deep so completely paralyzed by the presence of their natural, although

diminutive, enemies. Frequently the terrified animal – comparatively of enormous size and superior strength – evinces no effort to escape, but lies in a helpless condition, or makes but little resistance to the assaults of its merciless desroyers. The attack of these wolves of the ocean upon their gigantic prey may be likened, in some respects, to a pack of hounds holding the stricken deer at bay. They cluster about the animal's head, some of their number breaching over it, while others seize it by the lips and haul the bleeding monster under water; and when captured, should the mouth be open, they eat out its tongue. We saw an attack made by three Killers upon a cow whale and her calf, in a lagoon on the coast of Lower California, in the spring of 1858. The whale was of the California Gray species, and her young was grown to three times the bulk of the largest Killers engaged in the contest, which lasted for an hour or more. They made alternate assaults upon the old whale and her offspring, finally killing the latter, which sunk to the bottom, where the water was five fathoms deep. During the struggle, the mother became nearly exhausted, having received several deep wounds about the throat and lips. As soon as their prize had settled to the bottom, the three Orcas descended, bringing up large pieces of flesh in their mouths, which they dovoured after coming to the surface. While gorging themselves in this wise, the old whale made her escape, leaving a track of gory water behind. Instances have been known, on the North-western Coast, where a band of Orcas laid siege to whales that had been killed by whalemen, and which were being towed to the ship, in so determined a manner, that, although they were frequently lanced and cut with boat-spades, they took the dead animals from their human captors, and hauled them under water, out of sight. The Orca, however, does not always live on such gigantic food; and we incline to the belief that it is but rarely these carnivora of the sea attack the larger Cetaceans, but chiefly prey with great rapacity upon their young. The Orca finds its principal food in the smaller species of its own genus, together with seals and the larger fishes, as before mentioned. For several easons we had watched them about the seal islands of California, and came to the conclusion that they subsisted on the fish found around the edge of the kelp which fringes the shores. By chance, however, we were so fortunate as to take one at the island of Asuncion, and, on examining its stomach, found it filled with young seals. At the time it was the height of the sealing season, and the beaches around the island were lined with innumerable herds; and, although there were sealing parties about the rocks from early dawn until dusk of evening, no one ever saw these savage animals molest the seals that were continually swimming about in very large numbers. Subsequently, we had an excellent opportunity to observe them at

the island of Santa Barbara, in animated pursuit of their prey. Only four of short-finned Killers were in the band. It was a windy day, and a heavy surf beat high and spitefully against the rugged points and bluffs, which seemed to arouse both aquatic beast and bird into most unusual activity, for the gulls and eagles hovered and swooped above, watching to snatch any morsel that might drop from the murderous jaws of the pursuing Killers, who were making the circuit of the island, apparently intent on surprising any unwary seal that might be playing in the surge; and upon meeting with one they would instantly dive after it, or bound over the projecting rocky points in hot chase, as the surf swept over them; but as soon as they discovered our boat, they dashed their flukes in the air, and made off for the open sea. Even the largest male sea-lions endeavor to avoid the Orcas; for whenever the latter are about the rocks and islets, those howling monsters seek a safe retreat on shore.

      That the Orca is possessed of great swiftness is undeniable, when we realize the fact that the numerous species of Dolphins are overtaken by them and literally swallowed alive. Eschricht, in his interesting memoir on The Northern Species of Orca, states that it had been known to swallow four porpoises in succession, and that thirteen of these animals, together with fourteen seals, had been found in the maw of one of these greedy creatures, which measured only sixteen feet in lenth. The fierce character of the Orca, and the nature of its food, necessarily bring its haunts at or near the coast; and the sounds and bays, which teem with every variety of marine animal life, are much more frequently its feeding-grounds than the periodical abodes of the balaenas, which are farther out in the ocean. The vast net-work of inland waters on the western coasts of British Columbia and Alaska is a favorite resort for the Orcas throughout the year. In the fishing season we have met with them in the vicinity of the Nass River, exhibiting their variously figured dorsals and colored marks, as they made their gambols or shot out upon the surface in the chase. During the early spring months the oulacon literally choke the mouth of the Nass, and here the seals and porpoises congregate to fill themselves to repletion from the myriads of those minnows; and, in turn, in obedience to the laws of nature, the Orcas are found here, pursuing and devouring the enemies of the "small fish."^* They will sometimes be seen peering above the surface with a seal in their bristling jaws, shaking and crushing their victims, and swallowing them apparently with great gusto; or, should no other game present itself, porpoises and salmon may fill their empty maws, or a Humpback or Finback whale may furnish them and ample repast.

      Farther northward, among the icy regions, the Orca delights in the pursuit and destruction of the White Whale, or Beluga, and in robbing the walrus of its helpless offspring. The tender flesh and rich fat of the White Whale furnishes them with choice food; but, as if not content with satiating their own greed, they seem to aim at the total destruction of their victims, by tearing the whole animal into fragments. Captain Holböll writes of the Greenland Killers as follows: "In the year 1827, I was myself an eye-witness of a great slaughter performed by these rapacious animals. A shoal of belugas had been pursued by these blood-thirsty animals into a bay in the neighborhood of Godhaven, and were there literally torn to pieces by them. Many more of the belugas were killed than eaten; so that the Greenlanders, besides their own booty, got a good share of that of the Killers."

      It has been said that even the full-grown walrus, although armed with long tusks, is fearful of the Orca; but in relation to that, we have nothing in our notes of observation to substantiate the assertion. It is true, the ponderous creatures will crawl upon the ice with their little ones to avoid the Killers, but it seems to be only for the purpose of keeping their cherished young beyond the reach of their enemies. Sometimes the cub will mount upon its mother's back for refuge, clinging to it with instinctive solicitude. When in this apparently safe position, the rapacious Orca quickly dives, and, coming up under the parent animal, with a spiteful thud throws the young one from the dam's back into the water when in a twinkling it is seized, and, with one crush, devoured by its adversary.

      Compared with other species of the Dolphin tribe, the Orcas are not numerous, neither do they usually go in large shoals or schools, like the porpoises and Blackfish. Their mating season, or time of gestation, is a matter of conjecture; probably in this respect they are similar to the Sperm Whale. We have met with them in midwinter, in the Gulf of Georgia and along the northern coast as far as Sitka, as often as at other seasons of the year, showing plainly that they are not confined to warm latitudes, nor migrate from the colder climates during the rigorous months. They are seldom captured by civilized whalemen, as their varied and irregular movements make the pursuit difficult, and the product of oil is even less than that of the Blackfish, in proportion to their size. The Makah Indians, however, occasionally pursue and take them about Cape Flattery, in Washington Territory, as they consider their flesh and fat more luxurious food than the larger balaenas, or rorquals. But, in whatever quarter of the world the Orcas are found, they seem always intent upon seeking something to destroy or devour.

SECTION III. — THE WHITEFISH, OR WHITE WHALE.

      Our opportunities for observing this beautiful member of the Dolphin family have been as follows: In the Okhotsk Sea, along the coast of Eastern Siberia, during the summer of 1862; in Plover Bay (latitude 64° 26' north, longitude 173° 07' west), September, 1865; in the same place and month, 1866; and in Norton Sound, September, 1865.

      Before entering into the details of its habits and the mode of its capture, we will briefly describe this inhabitant of the far north, as we have seen it, westward of the Pacific American shores; and whose haunts also include the Arctic Ocean, and the seas of Okhotsk and Behring. The animal, which is distinguished by its uniform light soft hue at maturity, resembles the Leucorhamphus Peronii in its symmetry of upper contour. Its linear dimensions average perhaps thirteen feet; although the largest ones considerably exceed that length. Its head is small; its prominent forehead being protected with a fatty cushion similar to that of the Blackfish. Its short oval and fleshy pectorals are placed more than one-fifth of the length of the whole animal from its muzzle, giving that portion between the head proper and the fins the appearance of a true neck. The opening of its mouth is contracted and curved upward. Both upper and lower jaws are furnished with sharp conical teeth, and among the adults the dental formulae may be put down at 11/8 11/8, or eleven teeth on each side of the upper jaw, and eight on each side of the lower one. Its diminutive eyes are but little larger than those of the Common Porpoise. The minute orifices which constitute the ears are covered with a sort of scale that quite conceals them. Its spiracle is situated a little behind the angle of the eye. The body is full, and tapers rather abruptly toward the caudal fin, which is broad, and in expansion exceeds that of the Orca, or Globiocephalus. The color of the adults is invariably a yellowish white, while the very young are of a leaden or bluish black; but as these mature they become mottled, and eventually assume the soft cream-like tinge of the parent animal. This species of the Dolphin family is very rapid in its motions, and its swiftness is brought into full play when in pursuit of the numerous varieties of fishes along the sea shores or up the rapid rivers. When making prey of such bottom fish as the flounder and halibut, it often darts into shallows where it can hardly float; but, like the California Gray, in this respect, it evinces no alarm at its situation, and makes but little effort to reach a greater depth. The White Whale, like all others of this family, is fond

of gathering in troops, yet we have observed that it generally advances in lines of seldom more than two or three abreast, or more frequently in single file; spouting irregularly, and showing little of its form above water. When undulating along in this manner, it often makes a noise at the moment of coming to the surface to respire, which may be likened to the faint lowing of an ox; but the strain is not so prolonged. Sometimes these animals will gambol about vessels as porpoises do; but at the slightest noise upon the water, or at the discharge of fire-arms, they instantly disappear.

      Through the kindness of Captain Arnold, we are able to add the measurements of a White Whale killed at the fishery on Tigel River, Eastern Siberia. The description and proportions of the specimen alluded to are as follows:

      Sex, male; color, white. Color of blubber, yellowish white; yield of oil, one hundred gallons.

      At this place the animal ascends the river a distance of thirty miles,^* where it is captured with the harpoon and lance as in ordinary whaling; but in other estuaries which branch from the northern seas it is taken in nets, during the season from June to September. Large numbers are captured by the natives of those coasts, and the oil obtained is to them a valuable article of commerce. In winter, the fat of the White Whale is considered a luxurious dish for the table, and the lean flesh supplies ample food for the sledge-dogs.

SECTION IV. — THE BAY PORPOISE.

      This peculiar species of Dolphin is the least in size of the entire whale tribe inhabiting the Pacific North American Coast. When fully matured it may attain the length of six feet, but those we have had opportunity to measure fell considerably short of these dimensions. Usually the adults are not more than four and one-half feet between linear extremes. The body of the male is jet black above, a little lighter below; and while the female is of the same color above, it is lighter on the sides, with a narrow black streak running from the corner of the mouth to the pectorals, and the lower portion of the animal is of a milky whiteness, yet the pectoral and caudal fins are black underneath, or of a dark gray. Occasionally, however, both males and females are found with the larger portion, or the whole, of their dorsal and caudal fins white. The former are of triangular shape, and placed very nearly midway between the animal's extremities. The caudal fin varies much in its contour, sometimes being quite broad and straight on its posterior edge, which is slightly notched in the centre; in other specimens the caudal lobes are lunate, and united present a forked appearance. Its pectorals are extremely small and placed low. Its head is somewhat pointed, but destitute of the slender, elongated beak of the Delphinus Bairdii, and the Right Whale Porpoise. The anterior portion of the animal resembles that of both the Orca and the White-headed Grampus. Its eyes are placed about two inches behind the corner of the mouth, and nearly in a line with it. Its ears are two inches from the eyes, and these minute orifices would not be noticed by the casual observer, as they are less than a sixteenth of an inch in diameter. The spiracles are placed a little forward of the eyes, and unite in one where they pass through the fleshy part of the cranium. The valve which covers them is convex on its posterior side. When the animal respires this valve is turned downward. Both upper and lower jaws are furnished with teeth, which in the adults are thin, flat, and broadest near their summits. In one example, a female four feet long, taken at San Francisco, California, the number was 26/24, and in another, 21/24. In a male, four feet eight inches in length, taken in Port Townsend Bay, Washington Territory, the number was the same as last mentioned.

      The following measurements and memoranda were carefully taken from a male specimen obtained at Port Townsend, Washington Territory, April 28th, 1869:

      Another specimen, a female, taken at San Francisco, California, during the summer of 1872, was examined and measured, with the following results:

      Color of body, black above, lighter on the sides, and white below; under side of caudal and pectoral fins, black.

      The coating of fat or blubber which covers the Bay Porpoise, is either of a yellowish white or pearl color, and in thickness, varies from one-half of an inch to an inch and a half.

      The habits of this animal differ from those of other species found in the open sea or along the coast. Their favorite resort seems to be in the discolored waters, between the limits of the pure ocean element and the fresh rivers. They are rarely seen far from either side of these boundaries. Our observation proves that they are found as far south as Banderas Bay, and about the mouth of the Piginto River, on the coast of Mexico (which estuary is in latitude 20° 30'), and as far north as the Columbia River, latitude 46° 16'. In the winter season they are seen off Astoria, and in Cathlamet Bay, twenty miles above; but during the spring and summer, when the river is fresh to its mouth, and in some instances for miles at sea, they leave the Columbia, following in the vein of mixed water. They are never found in large schools; but occasionally six or eight may be seen scattered about, appearing on the surface alternately, sometimes singly, or two or three at the same instant. Neither do they make those playful gambols and leaps that the larger dolphins do, their general habit being to make a quick puff and turn as soon as they appear above water, apparently choosing the darkness below rather than the light above. It is not from shyness, however, for they are met with about roadsteads and harbors, among shipping, and frequently play their odd turnings close to vessels under way, or at their moorings. By night, when at anchor, we have known them to play about the vessel's rudder; but this may be regarded as an unusual occurrence. Sometimes they are seen among the breakers, on the bars fronting harbor mouths, darting through or along the crests of the rollers as if excited into unusual action by the dashing waves surrounding them. They feed upon small fish, and are occasionally taken in the seines that are hauled along the shores of San Francisco Bay by the Italian fishermen. The northern Indians frequently capture them about the inland waters, during the clear, calm weather of the summer months. At such times they come up and lie quite motionless, for a brief interval, upon the glassy surface of the water, as if basking; then the wily savage, who is on the watch, silently paddles his canoe within gunshot, and fires a ball through the animal's brain; this, of course, kills it instantly, and it generally floats a sufficient length of time to enable the pursuer to obtain his prize, which is regarded as a great delicacy, and a time of feasting in his lodge quickly follows.

SECTION V. — THE STRIPED OR COMMON PORPOISE.

      This species of the smaller dolphins varies but little in its general proportions from Baird's Dolphin, except in its back fin, which is more falcated and slender, and its snout, which is more blunt. In point of color it is greenish black on the upper surface, lightened on the sides with broad longitudinal stripes of white, gray, and dull black, which in most examples run into each other, but below it is of a pearly or snowy white. The posterior edge of the dorsal fin is tipped with dull white or gray, and sometimes the flukes are marked in the same manner.

      We have observed that this species has a wider range, congregates in larger numbers, and exhibits more activity, than any other of the Dolphin family. They are seen, in numbers varying from a dozen up to many hundreds, tumbling over the surface of the sea, or making arching leaps, plunging again on the same curve, or darting high and falling diagonally sidewise upon the water, with a spiteful splash, accompanied by a report that may be heard at some distance. When a brisk breeze is blowing they frequently play about the bow of a ship going at her utmost speed, darting across the cutwater and shooting ahead, or circling around the vessel, apparently sporting at ease. In calm weather they are sometimes seen in immense shoals, leaping, plunging, lobtailing, and finning – in fact, exhibiting an endless variety of attitudes – and at the same time the whole assemblage moves swiftly in various directions, as if enjoying a general frolic.

      While on a cruise in the U. S. Revenue cutter Wayanda, during the month of October, 1872, we had an opportunity of witnessing, at midnight, the gambols of an immense herd of these active and rapacious animals. The sea was quite smooth, and not a breath of wind was stirring. At first we could hear a harsh rustling sound, as if a heavy squall of wind, accompanied with hail, was sweeping over the otherwise tranquil sea; and, as the moon burst through the clouded sky, we could see a sheet of foam and spray surging toward us. In a few moments the vessel was surrounded by myriads of these Common Porpoises, which, in their playful movements, for the space of one hour, whitened the sea all around as far as the eye could discern, when they almost instantly disappeared.

      The Striped Porpoises are often seen in considerable numbers about the large bays and lagoons along this coast, that have no fresh water running into them. They abound more along the coasts where small fish are found than in mid-ocean,

as they principally prey upon the smaller finny tribes; and to obtain them shoot swiftly through the water, seizing the object of pursuit with the slightest effort. Occasionally a large number of them will get into a school of fish, frightening them so much that they will dart around in all directions, taking no regular course to escape their pursuers, and finally get so bewildered as to lose nearly all control over their movements. At such times the Striped Porpoise is manifestly the "sea swine," filling itself to repletion.

      In perfectly calm weather they are sometimes seen huddled together on the glaring surface, their heads slightly raised, or reclining a little on their sides, as if resting from their constant activity; but such instances are not frequent. Generally they are seen in great numbers rushing over and through the undulating sea, exhibiting their active habits and propensity to roam over an unlimited extent of ocean.

SECTION VI. — BAIRD'S DOLPHIN.

      This Dolphin inhabits the Pacific North American coast, in common with other varieties which abound in those waters. At a distance it much resembles the Common Porpoise of fishermen and sailors; but it differs in several points from that species. We were so fortunate as to obtain two female specimens off Point Arguello, in the fall of 1872, from which we obtained the following notes. Apparently, both individuals were adults, and nearly the same size and weight. The body of the Delphinus Bairdii is more slender, and its snout more elongated and rounded, than that of the Striped or Common Porpoise, and may be compared to the bill of a snipe. Its teeth are slender, conical, and slightly curved inward. Its dorsal fin is more erect and less falcated than that of the Lagenorhynchus obliquidens, while the pectorals are nearly of the same shape and comparative proportions; but the caudal fin is less in breadth, and greater in proportionate expansion. Its back, immediately forward of the dorsal fin, is somewhat concave, so that when taking a side view the upper contour appears lower before than behind the fin. Its varied colors are, top and sides of head, black; sides of body behind the vent, and both sides of pectorals and flukes, a greenish black; a black patch around the eye, with a white streak passing forward above the mouth; a continuous black streak from the side of the under jaw to the anterior edge of the pectorals; sides, behind the eye, gray – the upper boundary of this color being somewhat above the plane of that organ, beginning to curve downward just behind the dorsal fin, and meeting both

white and black marks between the vent and the flukes, in or near the mesial line on the under side of the body; a lanceolate white patch extending on the ventral side, from the middle of the under jaw to the anterior angle of the vulvae; a narrow white strip extending from the corner of the mouth backward, on each side, slightly arched above the pectoral, and then curving downward gradually, the two meeting below in the region of the vent. Another, still narrower and somewhat obscure, starts at the same place with the last, but is soon lost in the white ventral patch before alluded to. Appended are the dimensions, in feet and inches, of the examples above mentioned:

      Weight of animals (avoirdupois), respectively, one hundred and one hundred and sixty-one pounds; weight of brain, two pounds.

      The Delphinus Bairdii may be considered symmetrical in its proportions. It moves through the water with great swiftness and grace.

SECTION VII. — THE RIGHT WHALE PORPOISE.

      The Right Whale Porpoise of the western coast of North America, in habit and form, is nearly the same as the Right Whale Porpoise of the southern hemisphere (Leucorhamphus Peronii), but it is not so beautifully marked, in vivid contrast, with pure white and jet black, as the latter; the former being black above and lighter below, with but little of its lower extremities banded with white. The Leucorhamphus borealis is not usually met with in large numbers, and is seldom found in shallow bays or lagoons. We have seen them as far south as San Diego Bay, on the California coast, and as far north as Behring Sea; showing plainly, that the two species of the same genus have a feeding-ground which embraces at least the western coast of North and South America.

SECTION VIII. — THE COWFISH.

      This porpoise is larger than the Striped or the Right Whale species, and is known by the name of Cowfish. It is longer also in proportion to its girth, and its snout is somewhat contracted. Its teeth are much larger, straight, conical, and sharply pointed, but less in number. A specimen taken at Monterey, in 1871, had 24/23 24/23. The animal also differs in color, it being black all over, lightened a little below. This description is based upon two momentary observations – the first at San Bartolome Bay, in 1853, and the second in Ballenas Lagoon, in 1859. The habits of the Cowfish, as observed on the coasts of California and Mexico, are strikingly different from that of the true porpoises. It is often remarked by whalemen that they are a "mongrel breed" of doubtful character, being frequently seen in company with Blackfish, sometimes with porpoises, and occasionally with Humpbacks, when the latter are found in large numbers on an abundant feeding-ground. They are met with likewise in the lagoons along the coast, singly, or in pairs, or in fives and sixes – rarely a larger number together – straggling about in a vagrant manner through the winding estuaries, subsisting on the fish that abound in those circumscribed waters. At times they are seen moving lazily along under the shade of the mangroves that in many places fringe the shores; at other times lying about in listless attitudes among the plentiful supplies of food surrounding them.

GRAMPUSES.

      Of this group of the Delphinidae, which has been observed along the Pacific North American Coast, there is but little known; they are commonly distinguished by the names given in the list of the dolphins found upon this coast. Our personal knowledge of these obscure animals is so limited that we have hesitated whether or not to mention them; but after due consideration we submit the following remarks:

SECTION IX. — THE WHITEHEADED OR MOTTLED GRAMPUS.

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      The average length of the Whiteheadcd or Mottled Grampus may be ten feet. Its muzzle terminates in a rounded point, and very nearly resembles that of the Phocaena vomerina. Its dorsal fin is narrow, quite high, and slightly falcated; hence the animal is sometimes taken for the Orca ater, and its general appearance and movements through the water are very similar to those of that animal. Its individual marks vary more than any other species of the toothed whales of the coast. While the prevailing color is very dark, approaching to black, the head and anterior portion of the body – as far as the pectorals in some examples – are white, in others it is only partially so; and frequently they are seen more or less mottled with light gray to the region of the dorsal fin. They are gregarious, and congregate frequently in large schools; at other times two or three, or even a solitary individual, will be met with, wandering about the coast or up the bays in quest of food, which consists of fish and several varieties of crustaceans. It is rarely taken, as it is extremely wild and shy.

SECTION X. — THE BOTTLENOSED GRAMPUS.

      The Bottlenosed Grampus is probably the largest of the Dolphin family of Cetaceans. Its color approaches nearer to brown than black. The fin on the back is comparatively small, angular in shape, with the longest side attached to the body, and placed much nearer the caudal fin than on other species of the same genus.

      The name "Bottlenose" is said to have been given it by reason of the head resembling the upper portion and neck of a junk-bottle; if so, from our observation of it (which was many times, from the vessel's deck or masthead), in its different natural positions, the bottle must have been one with a very large but exceedingly short neck; still the comparison is not, perhaps, inappropriate. The largest of this species are not less than twenty-five feet long, and otherwise are similar in their proportions to the Blackfish. The head appears to be of a shape between that of the Globiocephalus and the Phocaena vomerina, having a short rounded beak. The habits of the Grampus are such as nearly preclude capture, and little is known of its peculiarities. Two or three are generally seen together, "rounding" to go down as soon as they come to the surface of the water and spout, and when next rising may be beyond view. An exception to this, however, occurred in July and August, 1856, on the coast between Cape St. Lucas and Cerros Island, at which time we saw large numbers of them going in schools, ten, twenty, or thirty together, nearly all being of the largest growth; their actions were a good imitation of a school of small Cachalots – spouting several times when up, and only remaining down the usual time of Sperm Whales of their apparent size. Several fruitless trials were made to capture one. In two instances the harpoons were fastened effectually, and the consequence was that the animals immediately went down with great velocity, each in its descent taking a line one hundred and fifty fathoms long, almost before the boats' crews knew what they were about. It is said, however, that they have been taken with comparatively little difficulty, where the boats were supplied with lines upwards of three hundred fathoms long. The oil produced by the Bottlenose is reputed to be equal in quality to that of the Sperm Whale, and the yield is in a similar ratio to that from the Blackfish and Killer.

SECTION XI. — THE PANAMA GRAMPUS.

      In March, 1853, off Panama Bay, on board the bark Rio Grande, we captured what were supposed to be two small Blackfish; but, on making an examination, it was decided that they were a species of grampus. Our notes are as follow:

      Length of largest specimen, ten feet. Back fin placed as on a Blackfish. Upper end of dorsal more pointed than that of the Globiocephalus – the whole fin was very nearly the form of that of the Striped or Common Porpoise. Body less in circumference in proportion to length than that of the Blackfish. Form of head somewhat pointed, approaching to a beak. Color, a uniform jet black. Average

      thickness of blubber, about an inch; its color is quite red, and the oil retained the same hue after extraction, and appeared watery. The jaws were furnished with sharp, straight, conical teeth.

      These animals are found in large schools, and move over the surface of the sea in the same manner as the Globiocephalus.

SECTION XII. — THE PUGET SOUND GRAMPUS.

      In Port Townsend Bay, Washington Territory, June 19th, 1868, a great number of small whales, evidently a species of grampus, were seen gamboling, in squads of six or eight individuals, whose movements were similar to those of the Blackfish (Globiocephahs) . They were likewise of the same jet black color; but the dorsal fin was narrower, very pointed, and placed about one-fourth of the animal's length from its flukes. So fur as our observations go, the Puget Sound Grampuses are not numerous, and they are but rarely seen about the inland waters of "Washington Territory, which is the only place where we have met with them.

SECTION XIII. — THE SAN DIEGO BAY GRAMPUS.

      Of this individual Cetacean, our observations have been confined exclusively to those frequenting the Bay of San Diego, where the animals are seen passing into and out of the estuaries connecting with the main lagoon. The distinguishing mark peculiar to this species, is its broad, triangular, and prominent dorsal fin, which is placed about midway between its extremities, and is slightly falcated. Nothing is definitely known about the animal's dimensions. As seen when undulating over the water, it exhibits the ordinary movements of the Cowfish. Its length may be approximated at twelve or fifteen feet; otherwise its proportions of body are nearly the same as those of the Orca ater. Its color is black above, with more or less white beneath. It feeds on fish, for which purpose it ascends the estuaries. Repeated attempts have been made to secure one of the creatures, and during the chase they have been approached so near as to allow good views of their proportions upon the surface of the water; but their shyness and rapid movements have thus far precluded every effort to capture them.

SECTION XIV. — THE SQUAREHEADED GRAMPUS.

      The conflicting descriptions given of this animal forbid an exact delineation. Some observers say it has nearly the form of the Sperm Whale – especially its head, which is square and extremely bulky. Others aver that its mouth, which "lays low," terminates in a short beak, with a high square forehead. Our own observations have been confined to distant views of them from the masthead or from the deck; yet they have afforded considerable opportunity to note their movements, which are very nearly an imitation of the smaller Sperm Whales. Their spouting and "turning of flukes," which are performed with characteristic regularity, have deceived many an expert whaleman, and repeatedly the boats have been lowered in pursuit of them, the animals having been mistaken for Cachalots. The Squareheaded Grampuses, however, frequently remain longer upon and underneath the surface of the water than the Sperm Whales, and seldom, if ever, go in large schools, as do the Cachalots and Blackfish. In this respect they have more the habits of the Orcas. They are said to yield a superior quality of oil, but in small quantity, compared to their size.

SECTION XV. — THE BROWNSIDED DOLPHIN OF SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL.

      Although the knowledge we possess of this dolphin is very meagre – having discovered the animal after the natural history part of this work had been prepared for the press – still it is thought advisable to submit a description, however brief it may be. While lying at anchor off the town of Santa Barbara, May 16th, 1873, a school of what we took to be the Striped or Common Porpoises, was seen playing around the vessel. Their irregular movements, and the unusual length of time they remained upon the surface of the water, afforded an opportunity to study them. Their forms were apparently the same as that of the Striped or Common Porpoise, except that the dorsal fin is of the triangular shape which is present with Baird's Dolphin, and the color on its sides is brown, while its back is of a dull black; hence it has been given the provisional name of the Brownsided Dolphin. With regard to the habits of the animal, we observed one peculiar feature: that of darting through the thick beds of kelp which fronted the shore. Really they seemed to delight in sporting among it, and occasionally one of the

band would be seen leaping clear of the water, taking with it long sprays of the fucus. All our efforts to capture one proved unavailing; but enough was seen to convince us that they were an undescribed species.

SECTION XVI.-THE NARWHAL,

      Although the Narwhal is but rarely met with in that part of the Arctic Ocean accessible to the whalemen who pass through Behring Strait, yet, beyond question, it is an occasional visitor to those icy waters, and even to the neighboring shores of eastern Siberia. We have it authentically stated by a trader and traveler in Siberia, that the aborigines of that frozen coast have a superstitious dread of the casual visits of the Narwhal, and when one is seen by a single native, it is regarded as an ill omen, and the beholder either immediately puts an end to his existence, or he becomes a prey to evil forebodings, which ultimately bring the poor victim to an untimely end. The tusks of the Narwhal have been exchanged in barter by the inhabitants of that portion of north-eastern Asia bordering the Arctic Ocean, and, as articles of traffic, have passed from one party to another, till they have finally reached the trading-posts on the northern shores of the Okhotsk Sea. Captain Arnold, who was engaged in a trading expedition from San Francisco to the Okhotsk coast, in 1868, obtained at Tavisk Bay a very fine tusk of a Narwhal, which measured eight feet in length, including the root, which was fifteen inches. The tusk at its base was seven and a half inches in circumference, and tapering to its extremity, where its diameter was one-half of an inch. From its junction with the head, its whitish and polished surface exhibits a uniform twist, which adds much to its symmetrical beauty. Relative to the natural history of the Narwhal, we can state nothing from our own observations, but make the following extracts from Godman's monograph of the animal, which is based entirely upon the observations of the renowned Scoresby: "The Narwhal, when fully grown, measures from thirteen to fourteen feet in length, exclusive of the tusk, and at the thickest part, which is two feet behind the fins, the circumference is about eight or nine feet. The part of the body anterior to the fins and head is paraboloidal; the middle portion of the body is almost cylindrical; the posterior portion, to within three or four feet of the tail, is somewhat conical; thence a ridge, commencing both at the back and belly; the section becomes first an ellipse, and then a rhombus at the junction of the tail. The back and belly ridges run half-way or more

across the tail; the ridges of the tail run the same way along the body, and form ridges on the sides of the rump. The back appears depressed and flat, three or four feet posterior to the neck. The head forms about one-seventh of the whole length of the animal, being small, blunt, and round. The mouth is small and incapable of much extension, having a wedge-shaped under lip. The eyes are only one inch in their largest diameter, and are placed on a line with the opening of the mouth at about thirteen inches from the snout. The opening of the ear, situated six inches behind the eye on the same horizontal line, is of the diameter of a small knitting-needle. The spiracle, or blow-hole, is situated immediately over the eyes, and is a singular semicircular opening about three and one-half inches in diameter, and one inch and a half in length. The fins are twelve or fourteen inches long, and six or eight broad, and placed at one-fifth of the length of the animal from the snout. Where fixed to the body, the fin is elliptical. In the adult Narwhal, the ground is wholly white, with dark-gray or blackish spots. These spots are of a roundish or oblong form; on the back, where they seldom exceed two inches in diameter, they are the darkest and most crowded together. On the sides these spots are fainter, smaller, and more open. On the belly they are extremely faint and few. A close patch of brownish-black, without any white, is often found on the upper part of the neck, just behind the blow-hole. The sucker Narwhals are almost uniformly, of a bluish-gray, or slate color. Very old individuals become almost white. The remarkable peculiarity of the Narwhal is its long, spiral, ivory tusk, which grows from the left side of the inferior portion of the upper jaw, sometimes to the length of ten feet or more. This tusk is generally covered with a dark, greasy incrustation above, while below and at the point it is kept white by use. In addition to this external tusk, peculiar to the male, there is another on the right side of the head, about nine inches long, imbedded in the skull. In females, as well as in young males, in which the tooth does not appear externally, the rudiments of two tusks are generally found in the upper jaw."^*

      The food of the Narwhal is said to consist of molluscous animals, and sometimes fish, although the creature is destitute of teeth exclusive of its tusks. The Narwhal is considered a harmless animal, but active and possessed of considerable swiftness; yet, when on the surface of the water for the purpose of respiration, it

frequently lies motionless for several minutes. The Narwhal is captured by shooting it with a rifle, or it is taken with the harpoon and lance, as are other whales. The blubber of the body yields a fine quality of oil. The Greenlanders and Esquimaux utilize the whole creature. The flesh is devoured as excellent food; the oil is burned in their moss lamps; the intestines are manufactured into lines and garments; and the tusks are fashioned into spears and other weapons.

PART II.

PINIPEDIA.

PART II. — PINNIPEDIA.

INTRODUCTION.

      A Variety of marine animals inhabit the western coast of North America which are scientifically classed under the head of Pinnipedia, but familiarly known under the general name of Seals. Those described in the following monograph are enumerated, and their technical names given, at the conclusion of the catalogue appended to this work.

      All the pinnipedes periodically inhabit both the water and the land adjacent. Their food consists of fish, crustaceans, and various other marine invertebrates found about the shores, and of sea-fowls. All the different species of pinnipedes bring forth and suckle their young in a similar manner to other mammals. The general form of the animal is elongated, with quite full anterior proportions, exclusive of the head and neck. The posterior part of the body is tapering, and terminates at the junction with the hind limbs. Their appendages for locomotion are commonly called flippers. The anterior, or side ones, nearly correspond to the fore limbs of carnivorous animals; and, in some species, they take closely the form of the pectorals of Cetaceans. "Where one set of flippers is furnished with claws, or nails, the other is nearly or quite destitute of them; and, whether it be the anterior or posterior members which are thus armed, it is these of which the animal principally makes use in its movements upon the land. These flippers are very flexible, and seem much better suited for propulsion in the water than for terrestrial locomotion. The body of the animal is usually covered with short and bristly hair; but in some few species their inner coating is a thick, rich fur, with long, glistening hairs over all. The geographical distribution of the pinnipedes is unlimited, the family being distributed in different groups over every zone and both hemispheres.

      It is difficult to produce a satisfactory figure of a seal, for the reason that in its various attitudes the animal materially changes its contour. In one position its neck becomes somewhat slender and elongated, and its head appears comparatively small; while in another posture the creature seems distorted into a swollen form throughout. Hence we shall introduce a few illustrative figures in addition to the plates which represent the general forms of these animals.

CHAPTER I.

THE SEA ELEPHANT.

      Among the varieties of marine mammals which periodically resort to the land, no one attains such gigantic proportions as the Sea Elephant. This animal, which was sometimes called the Elephant Seal, and known to the old Californians as the Elefante marino, had a geographical distribution from Cape Lazaro, latitude 24° 46' north, longitude 112° 20' west, to Point Reyes, latitude 38° north, longitude 122° 58' west on the coast of California; and, strange as it may appear, we have no authentic accounts of this species of amphibious animal being found elsewhere in the northern hemisphere. At the south, however, about Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and numerous islands in both the Atlantic and Pacific, and the Crozets, Kerguelen, and Herd's Islands, in the high latitudes of the Indian Ocean, have been points where the Sea Elephants have gathered in almost incredible numbers, and where hundreds of thousands of them have been slain by the seamen, pursuing their prey in those distant regions.

      The sexes vary much in size, the male being frequently triple the bulk of the female; the oldest of the former will average fourteen to sixteen feet; the largest we have ever seen measured twenty-two feet from tip to tip. The following measurements (in feet and inches) and notes were taken of two large females and one new-born pup, obtained on the coast of Lower California:

      The posterior flippers of the Sea Elephant are very nearly like those of the Leopard Seal, except that they are clawless. The fore flippers, however, are furnished each with five nails, which, in shape, somewhat resemble those of the human hand, but in color they are a dull black; the longest in the two adult examples examined measured one and a half inches. The two teats of the smaller animal were twenty inches from the posterior termination of the body. In the larger one they were two feet and three inches from the root of the tail, which is extremely short and pointed. The whiskers on each side of the face, in both specimens, numbered from thirty-five to forty, the longest of which were seven inches; their color was of a dark brown tipped with a lighter shade. Eight or ten bristle-like hairs were present upon or near the upper lid of the eye, and constituted the eyebrows. The pup, whose measurements are given above, had forty-six whiskers on one side of its face, and forty-two on the other, and ten frizzly hairs over each eye. Its color was a dark brown, or nearly a chestnut shade.

      The color of the adult Sea Elephant is a light brown, when its thin short hair is grown to full length; but, immediately after shedding, it becomes like that of the land elephant, or of a bluish cast. The average thickness of its skin is fully equal to that of the largest bullock. A fat bull, taken at Santa Barbara Island, by the brig Mary Helen, in 1852, was eighteen feet long, and yielded two hundred and ten gallons of oil. Round the under side of the neck, in the oldest males, the animal appears to undergo a change with age; the hair falls off, the skin thickens and becomes wrinkled – the furrows crossing each other, producing a checkered

surface – and sometimes the throat is more or less marked with white spots. Its proboscis extends from opposite the angle of the mouth forward (in the larger males) about fifteen inches, when the creature is in a state of quietude, and the upper surface appears ridgy; but when the animal makes an excited respiration, the trunk becomes more elongated, and the ridges nearly disappear. The mouth is furnished with teeth similar to those of the Sea Lion. The adult females average ten feet in length between extremities. They are destitute of the proboscis, the nose being like that of the common seal, but projecting more over the mouth. Their canine teeth are shorter, smoother below the sockets, larger at the base, and hollow nearly to the upper point. The sailors on a voyage to the Sea Elephant grounds, not having a supply of tobacco pipes, made them of these teeth, and the quills or leg bones of the pelican; the former furnishing the bowls, and the latter the stems.

      The habits of the huge beasts, when on shore, or loitering about the foaming breakers, are in many respects like those of the Leopard Seals. Our observations on the Sea Elephants of California go to show that they have been found in much larger numbers from February to June than during other months of the year; but more or less were at all times found on shore upon their favorite beaches, which were about the islands of Santa Barbara, Cerros, Guadalupe, San Bonitos, Natividad, San Roque, and Asuncion, and some of the most inaccessible points on the main-land between Asuncion and Cerros. When coming up out of the water, they were generally first seen near the line of surf; then crawling up by degrees, frequently reclining as if to sleep; again, moving up or along the shore, appearing not content with their last resting-place. In this manner they would ascend the ravines, or "low-downs," half a mile or more, congregating by hundreds. They are not so active on land as the seals; but, when excited to inordinate exertion, their motions are quick – the whole body quivering with their crawling, semi-vaulting gait, and the animal at such times manifesting great fatigue. Notwithstanding their unwieldiness, we have sometimes found them on broken and elevated ground, fifty or sixty feet above the sea.

      The principal seasons of their coming on shore, are, when they are about to shed their coats, when the females bring forth their young (which is one at a time, rarely two), and the mating season. These seasons for "hauling up" are more marked in southern latitudes. The different periods are known among the hunters as the "pupping cow," "brown cow," "bull and cow," and "March bull" seasons; but on the California coast, either from the influence of climate or some other cause, we have noticed young pups with their mothers at quite the opposite months. The continual hunting of the animals may possibly have driven them to

irregularities. The time of gestation is supposed to be about three-fourths of the year. The most marked season we could discover was that of the adult males, which shed their coats later than the younger ones and the females. Still, among a herd of the largest of those fully matured (at Santa Barbara Island, in June, 1852), we found several cows and their young, the latter apparently but a few days old.

      When the Sea Elephants come on shore for the purpose of "shedding," if not disturbed they remain out of water until the old hair falls off. By the time this change comes about, the animal is supposed to lose half its fat; indeed, it sometimes becomes very thin, and is then called a "slim-skin."

      In the stomach of the Sea Elephant a few pebbles are found, which has given rise to the saying that "they take in ballast before going down" (returning to the sea). On warm and sunny days we have watched them come up singly on smooth beaches, and burrow in the dry sand, throwing over their backs the loose particles that collect about their fore limbs, and nearly covering themselves from view; but when not disturbed, the animals follow their gregarious propensity, and collect in large herds.

      The mode of capturing them is thus: the sailors get between the herd and the water; then, raising all possible noise by shouting, and at the same time flourishing clubs, guns, and lances, the party advance slowly toward the rookery, when

the animals will retreat, appearing in a state of great alarm. Occasionally an overgrown male will give battle, or attempt to escape; but a musket-ball through the brain dispatches it; or some one checks its progress by thrusting a lance into the roof of its mouth, which causes it to settle on its haunches, when two men with heavy oaken clubs give the creature repeated blows about the head, until it is stunned or killed. After securing those that are disposed to show resistance, the party rush on the main body. The onslaught creates such a panic among these peculiar creatures, that, losing all control of their actions, they climb, roll, and tumble over each other, when prevented from farther retreat by the projecting cliffs. We recollect in one instance, where sixty-five were captured, that several were found showing no signs of having been either clubbed or lanced, but were

smothered by numbers of their kind heaped upon them. The whole flock, when attacked, manifested alarm by their peculiar roar, the sound of which, among the largest males, is nearly as loud as the lowing of an ox, but more prolonged in one strain, accompanied by a rattling noise in the throat. The quantity of blood in this species of the seal tribe is supposed to be double that contained in an ox, in proportion to its size.

      After the capture, the flaying begins. First, with a large knife, the skin is ripped along the upper side of the body its whole length, and then cut down as far as practicable, without rolling it over; then the coating of fat that lies between the skin and flesh – which may be from one to seven inches in thickness, according to the size and condition of the animal – is cut into "horse-pieces," about eight inches wide, and twelve to fifteen long, and a puncture is made in each piece sufficiently large to pass a rope through. After flensing the upper portion of the body, it is rolled over, and cut all around, as above described. Then the "horsepieces" are strung on a raft-rope (a rope three fathoms long, with an eye-splice in one end), and taken to the edge of the surf; a long line is made fast to it, the end of which is thrown to a boat lying just outside of the breakers; they are then hauled through the rollers and towed to the vessel, where the oil is tried out by boiling the blubber, or fat, in large pots set in a brick furnace for the purpose. The oil produced is superior to whale oil for lubricating purposes. Owing to the continual pursuit of the animals, they have become nearly if not quite extinct on the California coast, or the few remaining have fled to some unknown point for security.

      Thus far, we have been writing of the Sea Elephant and manner of capturing it on the islands and coasts of the Californias; and, although thousands of the animals, in past years, gathered upon the shores of the islands contiguous to the coast, as well as about the pebbly or sandy beaches of the peninsula, affording full cargoes to the oil-ships, yet their numbers were but few, when compared with the multitudes which once inhabited the remote, desolate islands, or places on the main, within the icy regions of the southern hemisphere; and even at the expense of digression, we have thought it well to give an account of the animal in those regions. Several geographical points have already been mentioned, and among these Kerguelen Land, or Desolation Island, and Herd's Island, are the great resorting-places of these animals at the present day. The last-named place is in latitude 53° 03' south, and longitude 72° 30' to 73° 30' east. Its approximate extent is sixty miles. Its shores are somewhat bold, broken, and dangerous to land upon; no harbor being found that is secure for the smallest vessel. In the smoothest

time, when landing, the boat's crew are obliged to jump into the water, to hold and steady the boat, that it may not be staved on the beach, or swept out by the receding undertow. In fact, a heavy surge always beats upon those frozen, rock-bound shores, varied only by the combing seas, that dart higher yet up the precipitous cliffs, when urged on by the oft-repeated gales that sweep over the southern portions of the Indian Ocean.

      Captain Cook, the celebrated explorer, on his voyages of discovery in the Resolution, when he visited Kerguelen Land, called it the Island of Desolation, on account of its barren and uninhabitable appearance, although it possessed fine harbors, where the hardy mariner could rest securely with his ship during the violent winter storms. But not so at Herd's Island. The Sea Elephant oil-ship, breasting the changing winds and waves to procure a cargo, is officered by the most fearless and determined men, who have had experience in whaling, sealing, or Sea Elephant hunting in those rough seas. The majority of the men are shipped at the Cape de Verde Islands, they being of a muscular race, who have proved themselves to be excellent hands for the laborious work. The ship, when first sent out, is provided with a "double crew," and is accompanied by a small vessel, of a hundred tons or less, for a "tender." On arriving at the island, the ship is moored with heavy chains and anchors, and every other preparation is made for riding out any gale that may blow toward the land. The sails are unbent, all the spars above the topmasts are sent down, and, with the spare boats, are landed and housed during the "season," which begins about the middle of November, and ends in the middle of February. Quarters are provided for that portion of the ship's company which is assigned to duty on shore. The habitation is a small hut, properly divided off into apartments – one for the mates, one for the steerage officers, and another for the men. This dwelling is no larger than necessity demands. Its walls are built of the detached pieces of lava, or bowlders, nearest at hand; rough boards and tarred canvas, supplied from the ship, form the roof, which must be made waterproof and snow-proof. During the day, light is admitted to each room through a single pane of glass, or a spare deck or side light – perhaps found among the rubbish on board the vessel; and doors are made after the fashion of "good old colony times," with the latch-string ever swinging in the wind. In this dank habitation, planted between an iceberg on one side and a bluff volcanic mountain on the other, these rough men of the sea at once adapt themselves to their several situations, and all the discipline is maintained that they would be subject to if on board ship. The high surf at this island renders it impracticable to haul off the blubber in "rafts," as at Desolation Island and on the coasts of the Californias:

hence it is usually "minced" (the "horse-pieces" cut into thin slices) and put into tight casks to prevent any waste of the oil; then, when a smooth day comes, they are rolled down the beach, and pulled through the rollers by the boats; or the tender is anchored near shore, a line is run to the vessel, and the casks hauled alongside, hoisted in, and transferred to the ship, where the oil is tried out and "stowed down" in the usual manner.

      As soon as the season is over – or, rather, when the time has come for the ship to leave, either for home, or to find shelter in some harbor at the Island of Desolation – the shore-party is supplied with provisions, all the surplus articles that were landed are re-embarked, the heavy anchors are at last weighed, and amid hail, snow, and sleet, the ship under her half-frozen canvas bounds over the billows, and soon disappears in the offing.

      The vessels having departed, the officers and men left on the island resume their daily occupations. Usually the number is divided into two "gangs," stationed at separate places, where clusters of huts have sprung up for the use of those belonging to the different vessels, who have from time to time made it a temporary abiding-place. Try-works are built, and a shanty is erected for a cooper's shop. These two habitable spots are known as "Whisky Bay" and "The Point;" the former being a slight indentation of the shore-line, where the Elephants in countless numbers were found by the first vessel visiting there, which, as report says, had a supply of "old rye" stowed in her run. The captain, in the heat of his successful prosecution of the arduous business of procuring a cargo, gave his men permission to "splice the main brace strong and often," so long as the work went briskly on; and it is humorously told that this noted landing-place was "christened" at the cost of barrels of the beverage, thus securing to it a name as lasting as that of the prominent headland on the borders of the Okhotsk Sea, well known to whalemen as "Whisky Bluff." From day to day the separated parties, living some thirty miles apart, hunt the animals for leagues along the shores, with the varied success incident to season or circumstances; and, although on the same island, the face of the country is so broken – being rent into deep chasms, walled in as it were by giddy, shelving heights, making it impossible to travel, even on foot, far inland toward its extremities, and the shores hedged in by sharp ridges of basalt, stretching out into the sea – the two divisions know nothing of each other until the vessels return, which is frequently after an absence of from eight to twelve months, and during that time a thousand or more barrels of oil may have been collected.

      Notwithstanding the hardships and deprivations that are undergone to make a

successful voyage, there is no lack of enterprising merchants ready to invest their capital in any adventure when there is a prospect of ultimate gain; and no ocean or sea where there is a possibility of navigating appears too perilous for the adventurous seamen to try their luck upon. The very fact of the voyage being fraught with danger and difficulty tends to stimulate them to action. And in this remote part of the world of which we have spoken, that was unknown to the early explorers, as well as to those who have more recently voyaged toward the Antarctic continent – and for the geographical position of which we are indebted to the enterprise and nautical skill of those of our countrymen who commenced the life of a sailor by "coming through the hawse-holes" – we find that rival parties are left on its bleak shores, who, when opposed the one to the other, watch with greater care every movement that may be made, than the coming and going of the creatures which are the objects of pursuit. Many a war of words has arisen, with the brandishing of club and lance in the strife; but, like the pioneer California miners, when left to rely on their own good sense for self-government, there was little to fear but that all laws made would be simple, just, and strictly adhered to. "When parties from different vessels are located on the same beach, the custom is for all to work together when killing the animals, as well as when skinning and cutting the blubber from the bodies into "horse-pieces." These are thrown into one or more piles; after which, the men of each party are ranged in squads, and each one, in turn, draws a piece from the heap, until all is disposed of. These divisions are made whenever the animals are found and killed in any considerable numbers; and, if far from the rendezvous, the blubber is "backed," or rolled in casks to the main depot. "Backing" is the stringing of eight or ten pieces on a pole, which is carried on the shoulders of two men; but if a cask is used, three men are allotted to each one of six or eight barrels' capacity, to roll which the distance of two miles is allowed to be a day's work. While the ship is away, homeward bound, or returning to the island for another cargo, the tender may be at Desolation Island, picking up what scattering Elephants can be found upon shores that once swarmed with millions of those huge beasts; or a short whaling-cruise is made, until the time comes for commencing operations at the island.

      Hunting for the scattering animals about the shores of Desolation Island, "between seasons," is the most exposed and solitary pursuit either in the whale or seal fishery. The tender takes a detachment of the crew, and plies along the island coast, landing one or two men on each of the best beaches, with a supply of water and provisions; a tent or shanty is erected, partly of wood, partly of canvas; and the skins of the Elephants furnish the floor, couch, and covering of

      the temporary habitation. Here the banished hunter or hunters rest at night, after the fatigues of ranging along the shores, killing and flaying the animals met with, and transporting the blubber to a place of deposit, where it is buried, to prevent the gulls from devouring it, until taken aboard. As the season returns at Herd's Island, the vessels are usually "on the ground;" the treacherous surf is again passed and repassed in the light, frail whale-boats, landing the fresh crew from home, who relieve those who have thus literally "seen the elephant." The time passes quickly away, in the toil and excitement of killing and flensing; and again the floating fragment of the world departs for the land of civilization, leaving her last crew from home to pass an Antarctic winter, amid the solitudes of icebergs and the snow-covered peaks of the mountain land. No passing sail is seen to break the monotony of their voluntary exile; even many varieties of sea-birds found at Desolation Island do not deign to visit them. Multitudes of penguins, however, periodically resort to the island, and their eggs, together with the tongues of the Sea Elephants, and one or two kinds of fish, furnish a welcome repast for all hands, by way of change from that substantial fare called "salt-horse" and "hardtack." Beside the close stoves in their apartments, which are heated with coal from the ship, or the fat of the Elephant pups, and the flickerings of a murky oil-lamp, the long winter evenings are passed in smoking and playing amusing games – "old sledge" and "seven-up" being favorites – and the reckless joking that circulates among adventurers who make light of ill-luck, and turn reverses into ridicule.

      The extent and value of the Sea Elephant fishery, from its commencement up to the present date, is not definitely known, as the ships engaged in the enterprise, when whaling and sealing was at its height in the southern ocean, were also in pursuit of the valuable fur-bearing animals, as well as the Cachalot and the balaena; hence their cargoes were often made up of a variety of the oils of commerce. We have reliable accounts, however, of the Sea Elephant being taken for its oil as early as the beginning of the present century. At those islands, or upon the coasts on the main, where vessels could find secure shelter from all winds, the animals have long since been virtually annihilated; and now they are only sought after in the remote places we have mentioned, and these points are only accessible under the great difficulties that beset the mariner when sailing near the polar regions of the globe. Enough data are at hand, nevertheless, to show that hundreds of thousands of the animals, yielding as many barrels of oil, have been taken from Desolation and Herd's Islands, by American ships, which for many years have maintained a monopoly of the business.

CHAPTER II.

THE SEA LION.

      Among the numerous species of marine mammalia found upon the Pacific Coast of North America, none excite more interest than the Sea Lion; even the valuable and almost domesticated Fur Seal of the Pribyloff group of islands fails to equal it in utility to the Aleutians, who depend upon it not only as a staple article of food, but obtain, by the sale of its silky skin, their foreign luxuries of every nature. But the Fur Seal (Callorhinus) dwells only periodically in isolated places; while the Sea Lion, although having an extended geographical range, is a frequenter, not only of remote and secluded places, but also of thickly inhabited coasts; entering inland bays and rivers; at times disporting among the shipping, end quite frequently making some detached rock or reef, contiguous to the busy shore, a permanent abode, where it seems to enjoy its approximate union with civilization. The Sea Lion is known, among naturalists, as belonging to the sub-family Trichophocinae, of which there are three genera, and several varieties, said to be distributed as follows: Otaria jubata, found on the southern coasts and islands of South America; Eumetopias Stelleri, which inhabits the coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from California and southern Kamschatka northward; Zalophus Gillespii, found on the coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from Lower California and southern Japan northward; Zalophus lobatus, of the Australasian seas.^* To whatever genus of the Trichophocinae the animals may belong, their general habits, so far as I have had opportunity to observe, are the same; the only difference being that those among their number who migrate north or south, conform, in some respects, to the various situations they may be placed in between the equatorial and polar regions.

We are acquainted, however, with only two genera,^* one of which (Otaria jubata) inhabits the coast of South America, and the other (Eumetopias Stelleri) we have met with between the tropical lines of the Pacific, from the Galapagos Islands – which are situated about the equator – northward on the west coast of North America nearly to Behring Strait, and westward to the Island of Saghalien on the coast of eastern Siberia. The first-named genus has a short, rounded head, prominent above the eyes, and a shaggy mane, which imparts a resemblance to the king of beasts; hence the appropriate name, Sea Lion, which was given it when first described.

      The Eumetopias Stelleri is of more symmetrical proportions than the Otaria jubata, and very nearly resembles the Fur Seal, more particularly the males; and,

at a distance, it is difficult to distinguish between a fully matured Fur Seal and a Sea Lion of ordinary size. The extreme length of the full-grown male Sea Lion of the north may be set down at sixteen feet from tip of nose to end of posterior flippers, and yield of oil at forty gallons; but it is seldom they are found measuring twelve feet from tip of nose to tip of tail, and the individual yield of oil throughout the season would not exceed ten gallons. Its greatest circumference would not be over eight feet, and its weight about one thousand pounds. Its head and neck are more elongated, and the latter is destitute of the mane which is characteristic of the Lion of the southern seas. Its mouth is armed with strong, glistening, white teeth. Its projecting upper lip is furnished, on each side, with strong, flexible whiskers, which are generally of a white, or yellowish-white color, some of which grow to the length of eighteen inches. "When the animal is either excited by curiosity or anger, its eyes are full of expression; and at such times they appear large, but when the creature is dozing, these members have quite the opposite appearance. Its ears are cylindrical at the root, tapering to a point, are covered with short, fine hair, and lie nearly in a line with the body. Its limbs, which are incased with a sort of thick shagreen, combine the triple functions of legs, feet, and fins, and are far better adapted to locomotion in the watery element; where, when excited, its movements are swift and graceful, while on the land, the creature's imposing, though awkward traveling, requires great effort. Its body is covered with short, coarse, shining hair. The color of the adult males is much diversified; individuals of the same rookery being quite black, with scattering hairs tipped with dull white, while others are of a reddish brown, dull gray, or of light gray above, darker below. The adult female is not half the bulk of the male, and its color is a light brown. One of the average size, taken at Santa Barbara Island, coast of California, in the spring of 1871, measured six feet four inches from tip of nose to tip of posterior flippers, and weighed one hundred and eighty-two pounds.

      We submit the following measurements, etc. (in feet and inches), of a fullgrown male Sea Lion (No. 1), taken at the Farallone Islands, July 17th, 1872; of an adult female Sea Lion (No. 2), taken at Santa Barbara Island, coast of California, April 12th, 1871; and of a male Sea Lion (No. 3), about ten months old, taken at the last-named island, April 4th, 1872:

      Number of whiskers on each side of the face: No. 1, thirty-one; No. 2, thirty-five; No. 3, thirty-six and thirty-five

      Three other males were measured at the same time of the first example, which varied but little in their proportions. The number of claws on posterior flippers of No. 1 were five, three of which were rudimentary. In the adult female example, (No. 2) the blubber was half an inch thick on the back, and one inch on the belly.

      The following are the measurements, etc. (in feet and inches), of a female Sea Lion (No. 1), supposed to be a yearling, taken at Santa Barbara Island; and of a new-born female Sea Lion pup, (No. 2), taken at the same island, May 3d, 1873:

      In the first example, the whiskers on each side of the face numbered thirty-five and thirty-six; length of the longest whisker, four and three-eighths of an inch. The color of the second example was black above, a little lighter below, with scattering hairs of light brown or dull white. It had three rudimentary claws on each pectoral; and five claws on posterior flippers, two of which were rudimentary. Weight of animals, respectively, eighty and ten and a half pounds.

      We give also several zincographic illustrations, which may afford a better idea of the different forms of the animals in varied attitudes, as well as their facial expression when sleeping, waking, and when in a state of excitement, which is manifested by howling or roaring.

      Both males and females have a double coating of fat or blubber, lying between the skin and the flesh of the body. These coatings are separated by a thin layer of muscular tissue. The fat yields the oil of commerce, although inferior in quality to that of the Sea Elephant. The young pups, or whelps, are of a slate or black color, and the yearlings of a chestnut brown. An erroneous impression generally prevails relative to the size of the Sea Lion, which is considered, by many, to be of mammoth proportions. And, when describing the larger species of mammalia found in the vast ocean, there is a manifest propensity to magnify them until transformed into huge monsters, like the whale of the ancient voyagers, which "wore nine hundred foot long," or that distinguished specimen of the seal family, honored with the name of "Ben Butler," who, with his troop, holds possession of Seal Rock, off the cliffs of San Francisco, and that has been estimated at the great weight of two thousand pounds.

      The habits of the Sea Lion exhibit many striking features. It not only dwells near the Arctic and Antarctic latitudes, but it basks upon the glittering sands under an equatorial sun. On approaching an island, or point, occupied by a numerous herd, one first hears their long, plaintive howlings, as if in distress; but, when near them, the sounds become more varied, and deafening. The old males roar so loudly as to drown the noise of the heaviest surf among the rocks and caverns; and the younger of both sexes, together with the "clapmatches," croak hoarsely, or send forth sounds like the bleating of sheep or the barking of dogs;

in fact, their tumultuous utterances are beyond description. A rookery of the matured animals presents a ferocious and defiant appearance; but usually, at the approach of man, they become alarmed, and, if not opposed in their escape, roll, tumble, and sometimes make fearful leaps, from high precipitous rocks, to hasten their flight. Like all others of the seal tribe, they are gregarious, and gather in the largest numbers during the "pupping season," which varies in different latitudes. On the California coast it is from May to August, inclusive, and upon the shores of Alaska it is said to be from June to October; during which period the females bring forth their young, nurse them, associate with the valiant males, and both unite in the care of the little ones, keeping a wary guard, and teaching them, by their own parental actions, how to move over the broken, slimy, rock-bound shore, or upon the sandy, pebbly beaches, and to dive and gambol amid the surf and rolling ground-swells. At first the pups manifest great aversion to the water, but soon, instinctively, become active and playful in the element; so, by the time the season is over, the juvenile creatures disappear with the greater portion of the old ones; only a few of the vast herd remaining at the favorite resorts throughout the year. During the pupping season, both males and females, so far as we could ascertain, take but little if any food, particularly the males; though the females have been observed to leave their charges and go off, apparently in search of subsistence, but they do not venture far from their young ones. That the Sea Lion can go without food for a long time is unquestionable. One of the superintendents of Woodward's Gardens informed me, that in numerous instances they had received Sea Lions into the aquarium, which did not eat a morsel of nourishment during a whole month, and appeared to suffer but little inconvenience from their long fast.

      As the time approaches for the annual assemblage, those returning or coming from abroad are seen near the shores, appearing wild and shy. Soon after, however, the females gather upon the beaches, cliffs, or rocks, when the battles among the old males begin for the supreme control of the harems; these struggles often lasting for days, the fight being kept up until one or both become exhausted, but is renewed again when sufficiently recuperated for another attack; and, really, the attitudes assumed, and the passes made at each other, equal the amplifications of a professional fencer. The combat lasts until both become disabled, or one is driven from the ground, or perhaps both become so reduced that a third party, fresh from his winter migration, drives them from the coveted charge. The vanquished animals then slink off to some retired spot, as if disgraced. Nevertheless, at times, two or more will have charge of the same rookery; but, in such instances, frequent defiant growlings and petty battles occur. So far as we have observed upon the

Sea Lions of the California coast, there is but little attachment manifested between the sexes; indeed, much of the Turkish nature is apparent. But the females show some affection for their offspring; yet, if alarmed when upon the land, they will instantly desert them, and take to the water. The young cubs, on the other hand, are the most fractious and savage little creatures imaginable, especially if awakened from their nearly continuous sleeping; and frequently, when a mother reclines to nurse her single whelp, a swarm of others will perhaps contend for the same favor.^*

      To give a more extended and detailed account of the Sea Lions, we will relate a brief sketch of a sealing season on Santa Barbara Island. It was near the end of May, 1852, when we arrived; and, soon after, the rookeries of "clapmatches," which were scattered around the island, began to augment, and large numbers of huge males made their appearance, belching forth sharp, ugly howls, and leaping out of or darting through the water with surprising velocity; frequently diving outside the rollers, the next moment emerging from the crest of the foaming break-

ers, and waddling up the beach with head erect, or, with seeming effort, climbing some kelp-fringed rock, to doze in the scorching sunbeams, while others would lie sleeping or playing among the beds of seaweed, with their heads and outstretched limbs above the surface. But a few days elapsed before a general contention, with the adult males, began for the mastery of the different rookeries, and the victims of the bloody encounters were to be seen on all sides of the island, with torn lips, or mutilated limbs and gashed sides; while, now and then, an unfortunate creature would be met with, minus an eye, or with the orb forced from its socket, and, together with other wounds, presenting a ghastly appearance. As the time of "hauling up" drew near, the island became one mass of animation; every beach, rock, and cliff, where a seal could find foot-hold, became its resting-place; while a countless herd of old males capped the summit, and the united clamorings of the vast assemblage could be heard, on a calm day, for miles at sea. The south side of the island is high and precipitous, with a projecting ledge hardly perceptible from the beach below, upon which one immense Sea Lion managed to climb, and there remained for several weeks – until the season was over. How he ascended, or in what manner he retired to the water, was a mystery to our numerous ship's-crew, as he came and went in the night; for "Old Gray" – as named by the sailors – was closely watched in his elevated position during the time the men were engaged at their work on shore.^*

      None but the adult males were captured, which was usually done by shooting them in the ear or near it; for a ball in any other part of the body had no more effect than it would in a grizzly bear. Occasionally, however, they are taken with the club and lance, only shooting a few of the masters of the herd. This is easily accomplished with an experienced crew, if there is sufficient ground back from the beach for the animals to retreat. During our stay, an instance occurred, which not only displayed the sagacity of the animals, but also their yielding disposition, when hard pressed in certain situations, as if naturally designed to be slain in numbers equal to the demands of their human pursuers. On the south of Santa Barbara

Island was a plateau, elevated less than a hundred feet above the sea, stretching to the brink of a cliff that overhung the shore, and a narrow gorge leading up from the beach, through which the animals crawled to their favorite resting-place. As the sun dipped behind the hills, fifty to a hundred males would congregate upon the spot, and there remain until the boats were lowered in the morning, when immediately the whole herd would quietly slip off into the sea and gambol about during the day, returning as they saw the boats again leave the island for the ship. Several unsuccessful attempts had been made to take them; but, at last, a fresh breeze commenced blowing directly from the shore, and prevented their scenting the hunters, who landed some distance from the rookery, then cautiously advanced, and suddenly, yelling, and flourishing muskets, clubs, and lances, rushed up within a few yards of them, while the pleading creatures, with lolling tongues and glaring eyes, were quite overcome with dismay, and remained nearly motionless. At last, two overgrown males broke through the line formed by the men, but they paid the penalty with their lives before reaching the water. A few moments passed, when all hands moved slowly toward the rookery, which as slowly retreated. This maneuvre is called "turning them," and, when once accomplished, the disheartened creatures appear to abandon all hope of escape, and resign themselves to their fate. The herd at this time numbered seventy-five, which were soon dispatched, by shooting the largest ones, and clubbing and lancing the others, save one young Sea Lion, which was spared to ascertain whether it would make any resistance by being driven over the hills beyond. The poor creature only moved along through the prickly pears that covered the ground, when compelled by his cruel pursuers; and, at last, with an imploring look and writhing in pain, it held out its fin-like arms, which were pierced with thorns, in such a manner as to touch the sympathy of the barbarous sealers, who instantly put the sufferer out of its misery by the stroke of a heavy club. As soon as the animal is killed, the longest spires of its whiskers are pulled out, then it is skinned, and its coating of fat cut in sections from its body and transported to the vessel, where, after being "minced," the oil is extracted by boiling. The testes are taken out, and, with the selected spires of the whiskers, find a market in China – the former being used medicinally, and the latter for personal ornaments.

      At the close of the season – which lasts about three months, on the California coast – a large majority of the great herds, both males and females^ return to the sea, and roam in all directions in quest of food, as but few of them could find sustenance about the waters contiguous to the islands, or points on the mainland, which are their annual resorting-places. They live upon fish, mollusks, crus-

taceans, and sea-fowls; always with the addition of a few pebbles or smooth stones, some of which are a pound in weight.^* Their principal feathery food, however, is the penguin, in the southern hemisphere, and the gulls in the northern; while the manner in which they decoy and catch the gaviota of the Mexican and Californian coasts, displays no little degree of cunning. When in pursuit, the animal dives deeply under water and swims some distance from where it disappeared; then, rising cautiously, it exposes the tip of its nose above the surface, at the same time giving it a rotary motion, like that of a water-bug at play. The unwary bird on the wing, seeing the object near by, alights to catch it, while the Sea Lion, at the same moment, settles beneath the waves, and at one bound, with extended jaws, seizes its screaming prey, and instantly devours it.

      A few years ago great numbers of Sea Lions were taken along the coast of Upper and Lower California, and thousands of barrels of oil obtained. The number of seals slain exclusively for their oil would appear fabulous, when we realize the fact that it requires on an average, throughout the season, the blubber of three or four Sea Lions to produce a barrel of oil. Their thick, coarse-grained skins were not considered worth preparing for market, in a country where manual labor was so highly valued. At the present time, however, they are valuable for gluestock, and the seal-hunter now realizes more comparative profit from the hides than from the oil. But while the civilized sealers, plying their vocation along the seaboard of California and Mexico, destroy the Leon marino, for the product of its oil, skin, testes, and whiskers, the simple Aleutians of the Alaska region derive from these animals many of their indispensable articles of domestic use. It appears an

      instructive fact in the order of Providence, that the northern belt of coast is clothed with gigantic forests, and swarms with terrestrial animals of the chase, whereby the natives of the wooded regions find means of transport across the inland waters, and ample clothing from the skins of the animals which range through their hunting-grounds, while the thousand islands which diversify the shore between the capes of Mendocino and Ommany are but sparsely inhabited by the Eumetopias, and those found are turned to little account by the semi-aquatic savage. But on the seal islands of Alaska, where the only timber at hand is drifted from the great rivers draining the wooded main-land, or borne by the Kamschatka branch of the Kuro Siwo, we find rookeries of the largest Sea Lions met with upon the shores of the Pacific, gathered with the great herds of Fur Seals which constitute the chief wealth of Alaska; and although the two species differ in their character, still they are found peacefully occupying the same or adjacent breeding-grounds. The Aleutians even aver that the Sea Lion and the Fur Seal sometimes cohabit together.

      The principal rookery of Sea Lions on St. Paul Island is near its north-east point; and to this place the natives resort, between the toils of the Fur Seal season, to make their annual "drive" to their village, which is clustered about the slope and glen of the opposite shore. This "drive," to the good-natured Aleuts, is what the buffalo-hunt has been to the red-skins on the plains of the Platte, or matanza-time with the old Californians; for the party starts out as on a sporting foray, and at night they stealthily get between the herd of Sea Lions and the water; then, with professional strategy, they manage to "cut out" six or eight of the largest at a time, and drive them a short distance inland, where they are guarded until a band of two or three hundred are assembled. Formerly the implement used in driving was a pole with a small flag at the end; but, since our adopted country-folk have become more Americanized, that Yankee production, a cotton umbrella, has been substituted, and it is said that any refractory siutch in the "drive" is instantly subdued by the sudden expansion and contraction of an umbrella in the hands of a pursuing native.

      To collect the desired number for the yearly supply involves several days; therefore a throng of villagers, it is said, sets-out prepared with everything needful for the campaign. As the work of driving goes on only at night, the day is passed in sleeping and cooking their food by smoldering fires of drift-wood and seal-fat, sheltered by their umbrellas, or a sort of tent contrived by spreading blankets and garments over whales' ribs in lieu of tent-poles – never forgetting in their repast the fragrant chi, which is quaffed in numberless cups from the steam-

ing sam-o-var. At length, the whole troop of animals being assembled, a flash of umbrellas here and there, with the call of the herdsmen, brings all into moving phalanx. But the time for driving must be either at night, after the dew is fallen, or upon a dark, misty, or rainy day; as the thick mat of grass that covers the land must be wet, in order that the animals may easily slip along in their vaulting gait over the green road to their place of execution. Under the most favorable circumstances, the march does not exceed six miles in twenty-four hours; and it being a distance of four leagues or more to the village, three days and nights, or more, are spent before they arrive at the slaughtering place. There they are allowed to remain quiet for a day, to cool their blood, which becomes much heated by the tedious journey; after which, they are killed by shooting. The dead animals are then skinned, and their hides packed in tiers until fermented sufficiently to start the hair, when they are stretched on frames to dry, and eventually become the covering or planking for the Aleutian baidarkas and baidarras. The fat is taken off and used for fuel, or the oil is rendered to burn in their lamps. The flesh is cut in thin pieces from the carcass, laid in the open air to dry, and becomes a choice article of food. The sinews are extracted, and afterward twisted into thread. The lining of the animal's throat is put through a course of tanning, and then made into boots, the soles of which are the under covering of the Sea Lion's fin-like feet. The intestines are carefully taken out, cleaned, blown up, stretched to dry, then tanned, and worked into water-proof clothing. The stomach is emptied of its contents, turned inside out, then inflated and dried for oil-bottles, or it is used as a receptacle for the preserved meat; and what remains of the once formidable and curious animal is only a mutilated skeleton.

      Crossing Behring and the Okhotsk seas, to the coasts of Siberia, including the peninsula of Kamschatka and the island of Saghalien, the mode of capture by the natives changes from that of the eastern continental shores. The inlets and rivers of these Asiatic regions swarm with salmon from June to September, and at this season the seals follow, and prey upon them as they ascend the streams. The natives then select such places as will be left nearly bare at low tide, and there set their nets – which are made of seal-thongs – to strong stakes, so placed as to form a curve open to the confluence of the stream. These nets are similar to gill-nets, the meshes being of a size to admit the seal's head – which gives free passage to the shoals of fish – and the pursuing animal, as soon as entangled in the net, struggles forward in its efforts to escape, but is held firmly in the meshes, where it remains till low water, when the natives, in their flat-bottomed skin-boats, approach and dispatch the victim with their rude bone implements. As the season

becomes warm, the animals of both sexes congregate in their favorite rookeries, and the females climb to the most inaccessible places among the rocks and crags, to bring forth and nurture their offspring. But here they are hunted by the natives accustomed to the use of fire-arms, who shoot them for the skins of the young ones, which are used for clothing.

      In this region also, during the spring and fall, after the "net-sealing" is over, great numbers of Sea Lions are captured upon the floating ice, with gun or spear; and during the rigorous months, the seal-hunters cut through the congealed mass what they term "breathing-holes." Through these the seals emerge to the frosted surface, and, if the sun peers through the wintery clouds, the creature, warmed into new life, may stroll hundreds of yards away; the watchful hunter, secreted behind a cake of ice or a bank of snow, rushes out from his covert, and places a covering over the hole, effectually preventing the animal's escape, and then dispatches it with knife and spear. Its skin is stripped off, scraped clean, closely rolled, and laid away until the hair starts – this process is called "souring;" then the hair is scoured off, and the bare hide is stretched to season – a process usually requiring about ten days – when it is taken down and rubbed between the hands to make it pliable; this completes the whole course of dressing it. The prepared hides are then converted into harness for the sledge-dogs and reindeer, and waterproof bags; if wanted for the soles of moccasins, or to cover their skin-boats, they are dried with the hair on, and become nearly as stiff as plates of iron. The blubber of the animals, if killed in the fall or winter, is preserved by freezing, and is used for food, fuel, and lights, as desired; while the same part of those taken during the spring and summer is put in the skins of young seals, and placed in earthen vaults, where it keeps fresh until required for consumption. The residue of the animal is tumbled into a reservoir, sunk below the surface of the ground, where it is kept for the winter's supply of food for the dogs, which live upon the frozen flesh and entrails of the seals, whose skin furnishes the tackle by which they transport the primitive sledge over the snow-clad wastes of Siberia and Kamschatka.

      In the southern regions, the Sea Lion is but rarely pursued by the aborigines; for the Fuegians, who are so little elevated above the beast, have no means of capturing the animal, as have the Aleuts and Koraks of the north; and those degraded types of humanity, who wander about the shores of Tierra del Fuego, partake of the same food as do the amphibious herds. But the Patagonians are sometimes found clothed in long mantles of Sea Lion skins, and the seal is otherwise utilized by them. Along the coasts of Chile and Peru, the inflated skins of

the Sea Lion are frequently used instead of the wooden balsa, or catamaran. The vast herds of these marine animals, to the far north and south, do not materially diminish, as they are hunted by the natives solely for domestic consumption; but those on our California shores will soon be exterminated by the deadly shot of the rifle, or driven away to less accessible haunts.

CHAPTER III.

THE BANDED SEAL.

      Of this beautifully marked animal, which attains the length of six or eight feet, there is but very little known. Its geographical distribution is said to extend eastward to Amoor land. It is found upon the coast of Alaska, bordering on Behring Sea, and the natives of Ounalaska recognize it as an occasional visitor to the Aleutian Islands. It is said to be found in greater numbers on the Asiatic coast than on the American. In April, 1852, we observed a herd of seals upon the beaches at Point Reyes, California; these, without close examination, answered to the description given by Gill, which is as follows: "The species is remarkable for color as well as structural peculiarities. The male is at once recognizable by the color, and this may be said to be a chocolate brown, except (1) a band of whitish yellow, bent forward toward the crown around the neck; (2), an oval ring of the same color on each side, encircling the fore feet and passing in front just before them; and (3) another band, also bent forward above, behind the middle of the trunk. There is considerable variation in extent of these bands, and sometimes the puribraehial rings are more or less confluent with the posterior band. The females are simply whitish yellow, or have very indistinct traces of the pastmidian band." Although we are quite confident the seals we saw on Point Reyes were the same as those described by Gill, still it is a remarkable fact that we have never seen this species on the coast of California since. The Russian traders, who formerly visited Cape Romanzoff, from St. Michael's, Norton Sound, frequently brought back the skins of the male Histriophoca, which were used for covering trunks and for other ornamental purposes.

CHAPTER IV.

FUR SEALS.

      The Fur Seals have so wide a geographical range – extending nearly to the highest navigable latitudes in both the northern and southern hemispheres – and are found assembled in such countless numbers at their favorite resorts, that they become at once a source of great commercial wealth; and, among marine mammalia, they are the most interesting we have met with. Captain Fanning – one of the noted sealing-masters in early times – distinguished the different ages and sexes as follows: "Full-aged males, called 'wigs;' the females, 'clapmatches;' those not quite so old, 'bulls;' all the half-grown of both sexes, 'yearlings;' the young of nearly a year old, called 'gray' or 'silvered pups;' and before their coats are changed to this shade, called 'black pups.'"

      The color of the full-grown males, or "wigs," is dark brown – with scattering hairs of white about the head, neck, and anterior portion of the body – and, in some instances, nearly approaches to black. At a distance, it is difficult to distinguish between an old "wig" and a full-grown male Sea Lion of the California coast, the former being frequently found measuring nine feet from tip of nose to extremity of posterior flippers.

      The "clapmatches" average fully one-half the length of the largest "wigs," and the greater portion of them are of a silver-gray color; the very oldest, however, are dark brown on the back and sides, with scattering white hairs over all. The fur is reddish brown inside. The thick mixture of black, glistening hairs imparts the dark hue to the oldest animals, and the white hairs on the younger ones give them the silvery lustre. Both old and young are of lighter shade underneath, particularly about the pectorals and posterior portions of the body. The layer of fat, or blubber, between the skin and flesh, may average one and a half inch in thickness, varying according to the time the animal has been on shore – it being very fat

when the season begins, and very lean when the season is over, which changes the animal's appearance considerably from its former robust condition. When in full flesh, the adult females weigh about eighty-five pounds.

      Following are measurements of five female Fur Seals, taken at the mouth of the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, in the spring of 1869:

      The succeeding figures afford a general illustration of the forms, or proportions, of the animals, when in various attitudes. The zincograph (No. 1) of the full-aged male gives a good representation of the animal's anterior figure, as well as imparting,

to some degree, the surly expression ever present with those veterans who have fought for prestige upon the rookeries many successive seasons. No. 2 is an excellent representation of a female head when seen in that position. No. 3 affords a good idea of the outline of the head (side view), and the expression of the harmless mother, who bears her offspring, and submits to the harsh treatment of her male companion and master, without manifest complaint or resistance.

Nos. 4 and 5 represent the relative proportions of a female, (view from side and below, which were drawn from a dead animal, verified by measurements. No. 6 illustrates the familiar attitudes of Fur Seals of both sexes, more especially the younger animals, or those supposed to be three or four years old.

      It is very rarely that the "clapmatch" has more than one pup. Out of twenty-two individuals examined, not one was found with twins; and the Indians about Fuca Strait say they never have seen two foetuses in the same seal. They have,

however, two teats each side of the belly, nearly on a line with the corners of the mouth and the posterior limbs. While taking measurements of some "clapmatches" at the summer village of Kiddy Kubbit, situated near the mouth and on the south side of the strait, where the animals lay in one of the large lodges, the women were engaged in skinning them and trying out the oil from the blubber. The question arose, whether a Fur Seal ever had more than one pup at a birth. A bevy of squaws discussed the subject with great spirit, raising such a din about our ears that nothing else could be heard; at last, a herculean kloochman clutched a knife, and slashing into the seals, brought forth one pup only from each individual, and, with a knowing look as well as a multitude of words, gave us to understand that this examination, together with past experience in the matter, was proof positive that the offspring of this species of mammalia did not come in pairs.

      The time of gestation has been supposed to be about nine months, but later observations at the seal islands of Behring Sea prove it to be at least ten months, or more. The pups, when first born, are about one-third the length of the mother. They are covered with a thick mat of coarse fur, which changes to a finer texture and lighter shade as the animals mature. The time of bringing forth the young ("pupping season"), on the coast of California, is from May to August, including a part of both months; on the coast of Patagonia, and the latitudes near Cape Horn, from October to March.

      The flippers of the Fur Seal are destitute of hair, being covered with tough, black skin, similar to shagreen, which is very flexible about the terminations of their extremities; the side limbs are shaped much like the fins of the smaller Cetaceans; the posterior ones have each five distinct toes, or digits, and three nails, or claws, project from their upper sides, four inches or more from their tips, according to the size and age of the animal. The tail is extremely short, and pointed. The ears are quite pointed also, slanting backward, and are covered with short, fine hair. The head, in proportion, is longer and sharper than that of the Leopard Seal. The number of whiskers on each side of the face may average twenty; they are of different shades, from blackish brown to white, and frequently attain the length of seven inches. The eyes are invariably dark and glistening, and have a humanlike expression.

      The intrinsic value of the animal does not depend upon the price of its skin alone; for the layer of fat adhering to it yields the oil of commerce, and supplies light and heat to the natives in their dismal winter quarters. The flesh, likewise, affords them a staple article of food. Fanning, as well as other early voyagers, speaks of the flesh of the Fur Seal pups, when six weeks old or more, as being

      equal to the best mutton, if properly cooked. Notwithstanding, after repeated trials, we confess our preference for the latter. The hearts and livers of young seals, whether of the Fur or Hair species, are excellent; but we would advise those fond of fresh meat not to witness the killing of the animals and the extraction of those choice portions of them. The employes of the Russian-American Company frequently salted seal meat for ship's use, when a supply of beef could not be obtained.

      The habits of the Fur Seals differ in several respects from those of the numerous Hair species. One of their most remarkable traits is their extended geographical range. To give a clear idea of their varied haunts as regards climate and diversity of locality, we may mention the following as among their favorite resorting-places: The coast of Patagonia, west coast of Africa, Falklands, New South Shetlands, South Georgia, southern coast of Chile, island of Masafuero, Lobos Islands (on the coast of Peru), Galapagos Islands (off the coast of Ecuador), the islands of Desolation, Crozets, and St. Paul's in the Indian Ocean, and St. Paul and St. George islands (Behring Sea), and Robin and Jonas islands in the Okhotsk Sea. Thus it will be seen that these curious animals are inhabitants of the antipodes of the globe, and bask in a tropical sun as well as endure the rigors of the icy regions of the Arctic and Antarctic.

      Some idea may be had of their numbers in former years, when on the island of Masafuero, on the coast of Chile – which is not over twenty-five miles in circumference – the American ship Betsey, under the command of Captain Fanning, in the year 1798,^* obtained a full cargo of choice skins. It was estimated at the time

that there were left on the island at least five hundred thousand seals. Subsequently, there were taken from the island but little short of one million skins.

      The seal fishery was extensively prosecuted for many years by our countrymen. The sealing fleet on the coast of Chile alone, in 1801, amounted to thirty vessels, many of which were ships of the larger class, and nearly all were under the American flag. Up to the present day, American vessels are the pioneers in the most remote and unexplored regions, wherever the migratory animals are to be found in sufficient numbers to induce that class of our seamen who are fond of a sportsman's life, in addition to that of sea-faring, to embark in the enterprise.

      In the midst of the Crimean War, an enterprising firm in New London, Connecticut, fitted out a clipper bark, which was officered and manned expressly for a

      sealing voyage in the Okhotsk Sea. The captain was a veteran in the business, and many thought him too old to command, but the result of the voyage proved him equal to the task. The vessel proceeded to Robin Island – a mere volcanic rock, situated on the eastern side of the large island of Saghalien. Many outlying rocks and reefs are about it, making it dangerous to approach, and affording but slight shelter for an anchorage. Here the vessel (of about three hundred tons) lay, with ground-tackle of the weight for a craft of twice her size. Much of the time fresh winds prevailed, accompanied by the usual ugly ground-swell; and, in consequence of her being long, low, and sharp, the deck was at such times frequently flooded; nevertheless, she "rode out the whole season, though wet as a half-tide rock," and a valuable cargo of skins was procured, which brought an unusually

high price in the European market, on account of the regular Russian supply being cut off in consequence of the war. This is only given as one instance of the many that may be related of sealing life.

      The "season," as understood by sealers, is the time the animals collect in herds, or rookeries, on shore: the females to bring forth their young, and copulate with the vigorous males, while the valiant old bulls guard the rookeries, until all again return to the sea, and migrate to some unknown quarter. A few days before the main body arrive, a number of old "wigs" come up as if to see that all is right. Frequently the innumerable herd have been seen, in the southern hemisphere, from the high elevations of mountainous islands, as far as the eye could distinguish at sea, leaping and plunging like a shoal of porpoises until nearing the

shore; then, passing through the surf, they collect upon the beaches, and divide into families, or rookeries, as far as practicable. These families, or divisions, are guarded by the "wigs," who can only maintain their authority and position at the expense of frequent pitched battles with others of their sex who may attempt to displace them. They also keep a watchful eye over the numerous "clapmatches" under their charge; and should one attempt to take to the water, she is immediately driven back, and frequently suffers from the savage bites of her master for attempting to escape. It is no unusual occurrence, in the height of the season, to see two full-grown "wigs" fight by the hour, exhibiting much tact in their assaults upon each other, both endeavoring to gain advantage by some adroit movement – at times making a savage lock with their mouths, or seizing each other by the fore flippers, or gashing necks and bodies with their sharp, tusk-like teeth. Sometimes we have seen several old males together on a separate beach, who were cut in every direction, and apparently had retired from the main herd, being unable to continue the fight in consequence of wounds received.

      Frequently, many thousands of seals congregate on the same island. They prefer remote, isolated situations, often upon barren rocks or islands, the shores of which are surrounded by a high surf, in which they delight to play. They sometimes ascend high, precipitous rocks, where it is next to impossible for man to follow them. Their food consists of fish and a variety of other marine productions, and small stones or pebbles are found in their maws. When a great number are collected on shore, their barking and howling is almost deafening; and when passing to leeward of a seal island, the odor arising from it is anything but pleasant.

      We have before spoken of the wide geographical distribution of the Fur Seals, and of their gregarious propensities. We may add, likewise, from our own observation as well as the expressed opinion of several experienced sealing-masters, that their natural migrations extend over a great expanse of the ocean; and if they are unusually disturbed in their favorite haunts for several successive seasons, they are quite sure to seek some distant or unknown place, where they can congregate unmolested by man.

      The females have great affection for their young, which may be more manifested on a coast where, by almost constant hunting from year to year, they have become wild and shy.

      On one of the San Benito Islands, on the coast of Lower California, we once watched with interest a "clapmatch" and her pup, which was but a few weeks old. She approached the shore cautiously, with her little one nestling about her; and while "hauling" upon the beach, she was constantly on the lookout, but at

      the same time caressing and endeavoring to quiet the object of her care, with a fondness almost human. All being still about the shore save the "wash" along the beach, she soon lulled it into quietness, and both lay huddled on a shelving rock, enjoying the warmth of a midday sun. Now and then a heavier swell than usual would roll in, varying the otherwise monotonous sound, when instantly the mother would raise her head and gaze with glaring eyes to make sure that there was no cause for alarm; then again she would resume her former posture, with her pup hugged to her breast by one of her pectorals, as if to sleep.

      Some small sticks being at hand, we broke one, to see what effect so slight a noise might have upon them. The instant it snapped, the young one uttered cries of alarm, and the mother yelped defiantly; they soon, however, became quiet again, and we were on the point of leveling the rifle, when accidentally an old "wig" was caught sight of, lying on a high rock not far distant: taking sure aim we fired, then turned to observe the movements of the "clapmatch" and her little one. With a bound or two she reached the water, but returned again to urge her young one off as best she could; soon both were in their chosen element, and disappeared around a rocky point – and that was the last seen of them.

      Our observations having been confined almost exclusively to the Pacific Coast, and chiefly between Chile and Alaska, what may follow, in addition to personal knowledge, has been obtained from the most reliable sources within our reach.

      In former times, when Fur Seals abounded, they were captured in large numbers with the ordinary seal-club in the hands of the sealer, who would slay the animals "right and left" by one or two blows upon the head. A large party would cautiously land to leeward of the rookery, if possible; then, when in readiness, at a given signal all hands would approach them, shouting, and using their clubs to the best advantage in the conflict. Many hundreds were frequently taken in one of these "knock-downs," as they were called. As soon as the killing was over, the flaying commenced. Some sealers became great experts in skinning the animals; and the number of skins one would take off in the course of an hour would be a decidedly fishy story to tell. However, to flay fifty seals in a day would be regarded as good work. It will be readily seen that a sealing-ship's crew, numbering twenty or more, would make great havoc among a seal rookery in very short time; and it is no matter of surprise that these valuable fur-bearing animals soon became comparatively scarce. As early as 1835, about Cape Horn, Patagonia, and other points in the Antarctic regions, men were left to "watch out" and shoot the animals as one or more came on shore.

      Both officers and men have been frequently landed from sealing-vessels on

barren islands, rocks, or points, which would appear quite inaccessible to any but sealers or sea-elephant hunters, by reason of the heavy surf and surge about them; and where men occasionally have perished of starvation or thirst, by not receiving the needful supplies from the ship, which might have been wrecked before the time for her return. One can hardly imagine more desolate habitations than the Diego Ramirez, off Cape Horn, or the Crozets and Prince Edward's Islands, in the Indian Ocean; but these places are no more forbidding in point of gloomy climate, isolation, and barrenness, than scores of others that might be mentioned, where men were left for months with or without a boat, as occasion required.

      On the coast of California, many beaches were found fronting gullies, where seals in large numbers formerly gathered; and as they there had plenty of ground to retreat upon, the sealers sometimes drove them far enough back to make sure of the whole herd, or that portion of them the skins of which were desirable.

      On the North-western Coast, south of the Aleutian Islands, but few Fur Seals are taken, and those are chiefly caught by the Indians with spears of native manufacture – the fishing being almost entirely confined to the mouth of Juan de Fuca Strait, and the contiguous coast of the Pacific.

      The Indian seal-fishers are among the tribes inhabiting the coast from Gray's Harbor to the southern part of Vancouver Island. The seals appear on the coast some years as early as the first of March, and more or less remain till July or August; but they are most plentiful in April and May. During these two months, the Indians devote nearly all of their time to sealing, when the weather will permit.

      It is but a few years since the Indians have turned their attention to taking seals solely to procure their skins and oil for barter; and what may seem surprising, it is but a few years since the animals have been known to resort to the vicinity of the strait in such large numbers. We have it from the most reliable source, that there were but a few dozens of Fur Seal skins taken annually by the Indians, from 1843 to 1864; after which period, the number of skins sold by them at Victoria, Vancouver Island, Nee-ah Bay, and points on Puget Sound, has steadily increased, up to 1869, when the number in the aggregate amounted to fully five thousand skins.

      When going in pursuit of seals, three or four natives embark in a canoe at an early hour in the morning, and usually return the following evening. The fishing-gear consists of two spears, which are fitted to a pronged pole fifteen feet in length; to the spears a line is attached, which is fastened to the spear-pole close to, or is held in the hand of, the spearman when he darts the weapon. A seal-club is also provided, as well as two seal-skin buoys – the latter being taken in the canoe to

      be used in rough weather, if necessary; or if a seal, after being speared, can not be managed with the line in hand, a buoy is "bent on," and the animal is allowed to take its course for a time. Its efforts to escape, by diving repeatedly, and plunging about near the surface of the water, soon exhaust the animal somewhat; and when a favorable time is presented, the spearman seizes the buoy, hauls in the line until within reach of the seal, and it is captured by clubbing. But, generally, the line is held in the hand when the spear is thrust into the seal; then the pole is instantly withdrawn, and the canoe is hauled at once to the floundering creature, which is dispatched as before described. Indians from the Vancouver shore frequently start in the night, so as to be on the best sealing-ground in the morning. This locality is said to be south-west of Cape Classet, five to fifteen miles distant.

      Frequently, during the early part of the day, in the spring months, fresh winds come from the eastward, causing a rough, short sea in the whirling currents about the mouth of the strait. At such times these seal-fishers, or hunters, squatting in their canoes – which have a skin buoy lashed on each side of the bow – present not only a comical, but perilous appearance, they being continually drenched with salt water by the toppling seas, and the canoes making as great a diversity of bounds and plunges as do the seals themselves.

      In Behring Sea, the islands of St. Paul and St. George are now the main resorting places of the Fur Seals, although in former years Copper Island swarmed with these periodical visitors; considerable numbers were also inhabitants of Behring Island, as well as several of the more isolated points in the Aleutian chain. The Aleutians, under the direction of officers of the Russian-American Company, were employed in taking the seals. Under the judicious management of the Russians, the animals did not decrease in numbers, and, to a certain extent, they became tamed, for they returned periodically to the islands, and brought forth and nurtured their young; and it was the custom to drive thousands of them inland, that their capture might be more easily accomplished. The loud moanings of the animals when the work of slaughtering is going on beggars description; in fact, they manifest vividly to any observing eye a tenderness of feeling not to be mistaken. Even the simple-hearted Aleutians say that "the seals shed tears."

      Our observations about the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca lead us to believe that the unusually large number seen in the vicinity during the past two years are a portion, at least, of the great herd that resort to St. Paul and St. George. One reason for this conclusion is, that no adult males are found with them. This would naturally follow the careful course adopted by the Russians of sparing the females, in order to propagate the stock. Moreover, this female herd –

for, almost invariably, those of the band which had been taken by the Indians were females – are found to have foetuses in them that must necessarily be brought forth in the course of a month or two, which would probably be about the time they would arrive in that far northern region. The Indians unanimously affirm that they come from the south and go to the north. It is quite certain that they do not resort to any islands in or near the strait, or the adjacent coast. As near as can be ascertained, the main body pass by the mouth of the strait during the months of March and April and a part of May, after which comparatively few are seen; scattering ones, however, remain till the close of summer, as before mentioned. But where these countless herds of fur-bearing animals resort to in winter seems a mystery. All we know is, that at the proper seasons of the year they come on shore plump and fat, the females have their young, and all remain about the land until the little ones are sufficiently matured to migrate.

      At the expense of being prolix, we quote the following from the notes of Captain Bryant,^* whose stay upon the Island of St. Paul, Bearing Sea, afforded him ample opportunity to study the habits of the Callorhinus ursinus:

      "The Fur Seals resort to the Pribyloff Islands during the summer months for the sole purpose of reproduction,^† Those sharing in these duties necessarily remain on or near the shore until the young are able to take to the water. During this considerable period the old seals are not known to take any food. These, and no others, occupy the rookeries (or breeding-grounds) with the females.

      "The breeding-rookeries, which are frequented exclusively by the old males and females, with their pups, occupy the belt of loose rocks along the shores between the high-water line and the base of the cliffs or uplands. The old male appears to return each year to the same rock, so long as he is able to maintain his position.^‡ The native chiefs affirm that one seal, known by his having lost one of his flippers, came seventeen successive years to the same rock. Those under six years are never allowed by the old ones on these places. They usually swim in the water along the shore all day, and at night go on the upland above the rookeries, and spread themselves out, like flocks of sheep, to rest.

      "Wherever a long, continuous shore line is occupied as a breeding-rookery, neutral passages are set apart at convenient distances, through which the younger seals may pass from the water to the upland, and return, unmolested.

      "Constant care is necessary lest thoughtless persons incautiously approach the breeding-grounds, as the stampede of the seals that would result therefrom always destroys many of the young. The old males are denominated by the natives Seacuth (married seals). These welcome the females on their arrival, and watch over and protect them and their young until the latter are large enough to be left to the care of their mothers and the younger males. Those under six years old are not able to maintain a place on the rookery, or to keep a harem, and these are denominated Hollusckuck (bachelors). These two classes of males, with the fullgrown females, termed Motku (mothers), form the three classes that participate in the duties of reproduction.

      "By the first to the middle of April the snow has melted from the shore, and the drift ice from the north has all passed. Soon after this period, a few old male seals make their appearance in the water near the island, and after two or three days' reconnoissance, venture on to the shore and examine the rookeries, carefully smelling them. If the examination is satisfactory, after a day or two a few climb the slopes and lie with their heads erect, listening. At this time, if the wind blows from the village toward the rookeries, all fires are extinguished, and all unnecessary noises avoided. These scouts then depart, and in a few days after, small numbers of male seals of all ages begin to arrive. The old patriarchs soon take their places on the rookeries, and prevent the younger males from landing. They thus compel them to either stay in the water or go to the upland above. In locating, each old male reserves a little more than a square rod of space to himself and his ten or fifteen wives.

      "Male seals continue to arrive in small numbers daily, a few of which are yearlings; those two, three, four, and five years old arrive in about equal proportions. Those older than this are more numerous than the younger, each one of which battles his way to his old place on the rookery, or, taking a new one, prepares to contend for it in case the owner comes to take it. As they acknowledge no right but that of might, the later comer has to select again, or fight for his rights on his chosen spot.

      "About the 15th of June the males have all assembled, the ground being then fully occupied by them, as they lie waiting for the females to come. These appear in small numbers at first, but increase as the season advances, till the middle of July, when the rookeries are all full, often overlapping each other.

      "Many of the females, on their arrival, appear desirous of returning to some particular male, and frequently climb the outlying rocks to overlook the rookeries, calling out, and listening as if for a familiar voice. Then changing to another place, they do the same again, until some 'bachelor' seal, swimming in the water, approaches and drives her on shore, often compelling her to land against her will. Here comes in the duty of the 'bachelor' seals. They swim all day along the shore, escorting and driving the females on to the rocks as fast as they arrive. As soon as a female reaches the shore, the nearest male goes down to meet her, making meanwhile a noise like the clucking of a hen to her chickens. He bows to her and coaxes her, until he gets between her and the water, so that she can not escape him. Then his manner changes, and with a harsh growl he drives her to a place in his harem. This continues until the lower row of harems is nearly full. Then the males higher up select the time when their more fortunate neighbors are off their guard, to steal their wives. This they do by taking them in their mouths and lifting them over the heads of the other females, and carefully placing them in their own harem, carrying them as cats do their kittens. Those still higher up pursue the same method, until the whole space is occupied. Frequently a struggle ensues between two males for possession of the same female, and both seizing her at once, pull her in two, or terribly lacerate her with their teeth. When the space is all filled, the old male walks around, complacently reviewing his family, scolding those who crowd or disturb the others, and fiercely driving off all intruders. This surveillance always keeps him actively occupied. In two or three days after landing, the females give birth to one pup each, weighing about six pounds. It is entirely black, and retains this color for the whole season. The young are quite vigorous, even at birth, nursing very soon after they are born. The mother manifests a strong attachment for her own offspring.

      "In a few days after the birth of the young, the female is ready for intercourse with the male. She now becomes solicitous of his attentions, and extends herself on the rocks before him. Owing to the position of the genital organs, however, coition on land seems to be not the natural method, and only rarely, perhaps in three cases out of ten, is the attempt to copulate under such circumstances effectual. In the meantime, the four and five year old males are in attendance along the shore. When the jealous lord is off his guard, or engaged in driving away a rival, a female will slip into the water, and an attentive 'bachelor' seal follows her some distance from shore. Then, breast to breast, they embrace each other, turning alternately for each other to breathe, the act of copulation sometimes continuing from five to eight minutes. When the female again returns to the shore, she is

treated with indifference by all the males. By the middle of August, the young are all born, and the females are again pregnant. The old males, having occupied their stations constantly for four months, without food, now resign their charge to the younger males, and go some distance from shore to feed.

      "The fact of their remaining without food seems so contrary to Nature, that it appears to me proper to state some of the evidences of it. Having been assured by the natives that such was the fact, I deemed it of sufficient importance to test it by all the means available. Accordingly I took special pains to examine daily a large extent of the rookery, and note carefully the results of my observations. The rocks on the rookery are worn smooth and washed clean by the spring-tides, and any discharge of excrement could not fail to be detected. I found, in a few instances, where newly arrived seals had made a single discharge of red-colored excrement, but nothing was seen afterward to show that such discharges were continued, nor any evidence that the animals had partaken of food. I also examined the stomachs of several young ones, killed by the natives for eating, and always without finding any traces of food in them. The same was true of the few nursing females killed for dissection.

      "About the 20th of July, the great body of the previous year's pups arrive, and occupy the slopes with the younger class of males, and they continue to be mixed together during the remainder of the season. The two-years-old females, which pair with the young males in the water near the island, also now associate with the other females. The pups are five weeks old when the old females go off to feed; they go with the mothers to the upland, but keep by themselves. The pups born on the lower edge of the rookery, where the surf breaks over them occasionally, learn to swim early, but the larger portion of them do not take to the

water until later, and many have to be forced in by the parents. Once in, however, they soon love to sport in it. The young are taught to swim by the old males on their return from feeding.

      "By the last of October, the seals begin to leave the islands in small companies, the males going last, and by themselves. In November, the young seals (as I was informed by the natives, my own observations ending in August) stop to rest a few days on the Aleutian Islands, and at Ounalaska the natives obtain several hundred skins annually.

      "Manner of Killing the Seals. – It will be recollected that I have described the younger seals as spreading out on the slopes above the rookeries to rest at night. A party of men approach these places armed with clubs, and quietly creep between the seals and the shore. When ready, the men start up with a shout at a given signal, and drive the seals inland in a body. When at a sufficient distance from the rookery, they halt to screen the flock of as many as possible that are too old for killing, only those that are two and three years old yielding prime skins; the fur of those older is too coarse to be marketable. The screening is done by driving the seals slowly forward in a curve; the older, sullenly holding back, force the more timid forward, when the men, opening their ranks, let them pass through and return to the shore. The remainder of the flock is then driven to the killing-ground, though still containing many too old to be of value.

      "It is necessary to drive the flock some distance from the breeding-ground, as the smell of the blood and the carcasses disturbs the seals. Another object is, to make the seals carry their own skins to the salt-house; hence it is sometimes necessary to drive them six or seven miles. The driving has to be conducted with great care, as the violent exertion causes the seals to heat rapidly, and, if heated beyond a certain degree, the fur is loosened, and the skin becomes valueless. In a cool day they may be driven one mile and a half per hour with safety. When arrived at the killing-ground, a few boys are employed to keep them from straggling, and they are thus left to rest and cool. Then from seventy to one hundred are separated from the flock, surrounded, and driven on each other, so that they confine themselves by treading on each other's flippers. Those desired for killing are then easily selected, and quickly dispatched by a blow on the nose. When these are killed, the remainder are allowed to go to the nearest water, whence they immediately return to the place from which they were driven. This operation is repeated until the whole flock is disposed of. The work of skinning is performed by all the men on the island, and everyone participating in it is allowed to share in the proceeds.

      "As the seals are not wholly at rest until the females arrive, great care is necessary in selecting the time and place from which to drive. These points are determined by a head-man, who assumes the whole control of this part of the business. In the month of May, only the small number required by the natives for food are driven. In June, when the seals are more numerous, they are driven and killed for their skins, although the percentage of prime skins is at this time very small, often not twenty per cent, of the whole flock driven. About the middle of July, the females go off into the water, and there is a period of general rest among all the seals, during which time the natives desist entirely from killing for ten to fifteen days. At the close of this period, the great body of yearling seals arrive. These, mixing with the younger class of males, spread over the uplands, and greatly increase the difficulty of killing properly. Up to this time, there having been no females with the seals driven up for killing, it was only necessary to distinguish ages; this the difference in size enables them to do very easily. Now, however, nearly one-half are females, and the slight difference between these and the younger males, renders it necessary for the head-man to see every seal killed, and only a strong interest in the preservation of the stock can insure the proper care. September and October are considered the best months for taking the seals.

      "Besides the skin, each seal will yield one gallon and a half of oil, and the linings of all the throats are saved and salted as an article of trade to other ports in the territory, these being used by the natives for making water-proof frocks to wear in their skin-canoes when hunting the sea-otter or fishing. These parts have no very great commercial value, though they are considered by the natives as indispensable to them.

      "Mode of Curing the Skins. – The skins are all taken to the salt-houses, and are salted in kenches, or square bins, the skins being spread down, flesh-side up, and a layer of salt spread over them. They remain thus packed for thirty or forty days, when they are taken from the bins; the salt is removed, and the skins are folded together, the flesh-side in, and sprinkled as they are folded with a quantity of clean salt. They are then ready for shipment.

      "Number of Seals frequenting the Island. – There are at least twelve miles of shore-line on the island of St. Paul's occupied by the seals as breeding-ground, with an average width of fifteen rods. There being about twenty seals to the square rod, gives one million one hundred and fifty-two thousand as the whole number of breeding males and females. Deducting one-tenth for males, leaves one million thirty-seven thousand and eight hundred breeding females. Allowing one-half of the present year's pups to be females, this will add half a million of breeding females

to the rookeries of 1872, in addition to those now there, while the young of last year and the year before are also to be added. This estimate does not include the males under six years of age, these not being allowed on the rookeries by the older males, nor the yearlings. If we now add those frequenting St. George's Island, which number half as many, and make a very liberal discount for those that may be destroyed before reaching maturity, the number is still enormous. It will also be seen that the great importance of the seal-fishery is not to be calculated from the basis of its present yield, since each year adds to its extent, as with proper care the number can be increased until both islands are fully occupied by these valuable animals.

      "Prices Paid for the Skins at the Islands, and their Value in Europe. – The Russian Company allowed the natives the value of ten cents per skin. This was the pay they received for their labor of killing, curing the skins, and delivering them alongside the vessel, ready-for-shipment, the company finding salt and magazines in which to salt them.

      "The parties who took advantage of the interval between the transfer of the territory and the enacting and enforcement of the law of the 27th of July, 1868, to kill and purchase of the natives, paid twenty-seven cents per skin, and had they been allowed to trade the present year, would have bidden forty cents apiece for them. To this is to be added the cost of salt, buildings, and the expense of the agency on shore. Their market value was at that time five dollars, so that, after a liberal allowance for incidental expenses, the profit must be very large. Previous to 1866, these skins were worth only three dollars each, but, owing to recent improvements in their manufacture, they have become fashionable for ladies' wear, and soon after the transfer of the territory to the United States the price rose to seven dollars. At this time, the Russians had one hundred thousand on hand, which were forwarded to London, the only market for seal-skins in the raw state, and the only place where they are dressed. The different parties which sealed on the islands in the summer following the purchase, took two hundred thousand, which so overstocked the market that they are now [1871] worth only three or four dollars.

      "The agents of the Russian Fur Company aimed to contol this branch of the fur trade in Europe by regulating the supply. To do this they sent orders a year in advance to have such a number killed as in their judgment the market might need, always keeping at the same time one year's supply on hand. At the time of the sale of the territory, the annual yield was estimated at eighty thousand skins. The opinion of the men who have the special care of the seals is, that it has

reached one hundred thousand, and that the killing yearly of this number will in no way check their increase.^*

      "Use of the Flesh by the Natives. – The flesh of the seal constitutes the principal food of the inhabitants, they killing, from time to time, such numbers as are necessary for that purpose. Before the seals leave in autumn, a number are killed sufficient for their winter's supply. The carcasses are allowed to freeze, and in this state they keep them until the return of the seals in the spring. The flesh of the yearling seal is somewhat darker than beef; it is juicy and tender, but lacks the sweetness and flavor of beef, and is less firm and nutritious. In highly seasoned dishes, it is relished by nearly all who partake of it. The soldiers on the island preferred it to salt rations. A five-weeks-old pup roasted is esteemed a great luxury."

CHAPTER V.

THE LEOPARD SEAL.

      This species of Phoca, known under the local name of Leopard Seal, inhabits according to our observation, the western coast of North America and the contiguous northern region as far as the most western islands of the Kurile chain. The adult animals we have met with in different latitudes, were, to all outward appearances, of the same form and of the same modified colors. The places of observation were Plover Bay, coast of Eastern Siberia, 1865; coast of Upper California, 1852; coast of Lower California, 1856; Strait of Juan de Fuca, 1869. The skeleton of the one examined at Plover Bay was forwarded to the Smithsonian Institution, through our friend W. H. Dall, who assumed charge of the scientific enterprise connected with the "Western Union Telegraph Expedition, after the death of the lamented Kennicott. The Leopard Seal in its proportions may be regarded as under-sized. It never exceeds six feet in length; and its thick body, with its short limbs, gives the animal a bloated appearance, which seems ill adapted to much activity. Its head is short, broad, and rounded; the eyes are large, full, and expressive, with five coarse, bristle-like hairs placed on a curve one inch above the edge of the upper lid, which constitute the eyebrows. It has thirty to thirty-five whiskers on each

side of the face, which protect or screen the mouth. The ears are merely openings in the surface of the skin, which are placed one and a half inches behind the eyes. Both side and posterior flippers are covered with the same thick short hair as the body, and each one is furnished with five sharp, slender claws, those on the pectorals being the longest, the principal of which measure one linear inch. The posterior flippers, when relaxed, may be three and a half inches in breadth, but are capable of expansion to ten. Two orifices in lieu of teats, placed two and a half inches apart, are situated on the lower portion of the belly, and nine inches forward from the origin of the tail. The tail is about three inches long, and is thick and fleshy. The color of the animal varies but little from a light gray, thickly mottled with dull black on the back and half-way down its sides, then changing to a dingy white underneath, with here and there distinct spots of darker shades. About the throat and breast, the creature at a distance looks to be of a uniform dull white.

      The following measurements in feet and inches, and weights, were taken of two adult females caught at Smith's Island, Juan de Fuca Strait, in the months of February and March, 1869:

      Weight of No. 1, sixty pounds; weight of No. 2, fifty-six pounds. The time of gestation with the Leopard Seals is supposed to be nine months. We have met with the new-born pups about Puget Sound in the months of July and August; on the coast of California, in June and July.

      The thick coating of white fat which infolds the body produces the purest oil of any of the pinnipedes. The Leopard Seal is endowed with no little sagacity, and, although exceedingly wary, it displays considerable boldness. It is found about outlying rocks, islands, and points, on sand-reefs made bare at low tide, and is frequently met with in harbors among shipping, and up rivers more than a hundred miles from the sea. We have often observed them close to the vessel when

under way, and likewise when at anchor, appearing to emerge deliberately from the depths below, sometimes only showing their heads, at other times exposing half of their bodies, but the instant any move was made on board, they would vanish like an apparition under water, and frequently that would be the last seen of them, or, if seen again, they would be far out of gun-shot.

      The animals come ashore more during windy weather than in calm, and in the night more than during the day; and they have been observed to collect in the largest herds upon the beaches and rocks, near the full and change of the moon. They delight in basking in the warm sunlight, and when no isolated rock or shore is at hand, they will crawl upon any fragments of drift-wood that will float them. Although gregarious, they do not herd in such large numbers as do nearly all others of the seal tribe; furthermore, they may be regarded almost as mutes, in comparison with the noisy Sea Lions. It is very rarely, however, any sound is uttered by them, but occasionally a quick bark or guttural whining, and sometimes a peculiar bleating is heard when they are assembled together about the period of bringing forth their young. At times, when a number meet in the neighborhood of rocks or reefs distant from the main land, they become quite playful, and exhibit much life in their gambols, leaping out of the water or circling around upon the surface.

      Its terrestrial movements, however, are quite different from those of the Sea Lion, having a quick, shuffling, or hobbling gait, only using its pectorals to draw itself along with, while a small portion of the animal's belly alternately rests upon the ground, the posterior part of the body, including the hind flippers, being turned a little upward. The head and neck are slightly elevated, also, when the animal is in its land-traveling attitude, but the creature is not so erect as, nor does it present the imposing appearance of, the Sea Lion, in its habits upon the shore. Its food is principally fish, and its rapacity in pursuing and devouring the smaller members of the piscatory tribes is quite equal, in proportion to its size, to that of the Orca. When grappling with a fish too large to be swallowed whole, it will hold and handle it between its fore flippers, and, with the united work of its mouth – which is armed with incisors, canines, and molars – the wriggling prize is demolished and devoured as quickly, and much in the same manner, as a squirrel would eat a bur-covered nut.

      The animal is easily tamed, and very soon becomes attached to its keeper. We have had several young ones on board ship, and in every instance it was but a few weeks before they would follow, if permitted, the one who had especial charge of them, and when left solitary, they would express discontent by a sort of

mournful bleating. A very interesting specimen of the Leopard Seal is on exhibition at Woodward's Gardens. This little favorite has been a resident of that popular and interesting resort for over three years, and, although a female, as we were informed, is honored with the title of "Commodore." The animal generally makes its appearance close at hand whenever within hearing, if called by name, and when its keeper appears on the lawn, to feed the pelicans, black swans, and other aquatic birds, which are its companions in the artificial pond, the Commodore does not wait to be invited, but, knowing as well as its keeper the meal-hour, is on the watch, and the moment the food-bearer is seen, the little creature – which is not over four feet long – lifts itself out of the water over the curb-stones and waddles quickly to its master's side, then holding up its head with mouth wide open, receives the choice morsels of fish which drop from his hand.

      Leopard Seals are very easily captured when on shore, as a single blow with a club upon the head will dispatch them. The Indians about Puget Sound take them in nets made of large hemp-line, using them in the same manner as seines, drawing them around beaches when the rookery is on shore. They are taken by the whites for their oil and skins, but the Indians and Esquimaux make great account of them for food. The last-mentioned eat them, as they do nearly every article of sustenance, with or without cooking, but the natives of Puget Sound singe them before a fire until the hair is consumed and the skin becomes crisp, after which it is cut up and cooked as may best suit their relish.

CHAPTER VI.

THE SEA OTTER.

      The most valuable fur-bearing animals inhabiting the waters of the North-western Coast of North America are the Sea Otters. They are found as far south as twenty-eight degrees north latitude, and their northern limits include the Aleutian Islands. Although never migrating to the southern hemisphere, these peculiar amphibious animals are found around the isolated points of southern Kamscbatka, and even to the western Kuriles, a chain of islands that separates the Okhotsk Sea from the north-eastern Pacific. The length of the full-grown animal may average five feet, including the tail, which is about ten inches. The head resembles that of the Fur Seal. The eyes of the Sea Otter are full, black, and piercing, and exhibit much intelligence. The color of the female, when "in season," is quite black; at other periods, it is a dark brown. The males are usually of the same shade, although, in some instances, they are of a jet, shining black, like their mates. The fur is of a much lighter shade inside than upon the surface, and, extending over all, are scattering, long, glistening hairs, which add much to the richness and beauty of the pelage. Some individuals, about the nose and eyes, are of a light brown, or dingy white. The ears are less than an inch in length, quite pointed, standing nearly erect, and are covered with short hair. Occasionally, the young are of a deep brown, with the ends of the longest hairs tipped with white, and, about the nose and eyes, of a cream color.

      The mating season of the Sea Otter is not known, as the young are met with in all months of the year; hence, it is reasonable to suppose they differ from most other species of fur-bearing marine mammalia in this respect. The time of gestation is supposed to be eight or nine months.

      The hind feet, or flippers, of the animal are webbed, much like the seal's. Its fore legs are short, the fore paws resembling those of a cat, being furnished with five sharp claws, as are the posterior flippers.

      The oldest and most observing hunters about Point Grenville (in latitude 47° 20') aver that the "Sea Otter is never seen on shore unless it is wounded." Nevertheless, we have accounts of their being found on the Aleutian Islands when the Russians were first engaged in the fur trade, and the animals are still occasionally taken, while asleep upon the rocks. We quote the following from Coxe's work on Russian Discoveries between Asia and America, and the Conquest of Siberia, published in 1780: "Of all these furs, the skins of the Sea Otters are the richest and most valuable. These animals resort in great numbers to the Aleutian and Fox islands; they are called by the Russians Boobry Morfki, or sea beavers, on account of the resemblance of their fur to that of the common beaver. They are taken four ways: struck with darts as they are sleeping upon their backs in the sea; followed by boats and hunted down until they are tired; surprised in caverns, and taken in nets." They are possessed of much sagacity, have great powers of scent, and are exceedingly imbued with curiosity. Their home is nearly as much in the water as that of some species of whales; and as whalers have their favorite "cruising-grounds," so, likewise, do the Otter-hunters have their favorite hunting-grounds, or points where the objects of pursuit are found in greater numbers than along the general stretch of the coast. About the sea- board of Upper and Lower California, Cerros, San Geronimo, Guadalupe, San Nicolas, and San Miguel islands, have been regarded as choice places to pursue them; and farther northward, off Cape Blanco, on the Oregon coast, and Point Grenville and Gray's Harbor, along the coast of Washington Territory. At the present day, considerable numbers are taken by whites and Indians about those northern grounds. Thence, to the northward and westward, come a broken coast and groups of islands, where the animals were, in times past, hunted by the employes of the Hudson's Bay Company and Russian-American Company, and where they are still pursued by the natives inhabiting those rock-bound shores. These interesting mammals are gregarious, and are frequently seen in bands numbering from fifty up to hundreds. When in rapid movement, they make alternate undulating leaps out of the water, plunging again, as do seals and porpoises. They are frequently seen, too, with the hind flippers extended, as if catching the breeze to sail or drift before it.

      They live on clams, crabs, and various species of Crustacea, and sometimes small fish. When the Otter descends and brings up any article of food, it instantly resumes its habitual attitude – on the back – to devour it. In sunny days, when looking, it sometimes shades its eyes with one fore paw, much in the same manner as a person does with the hand. The females rarely have more than a single one at a birth – never more than two – which are "brought forth upon the kelp," say

the white hunters, that abounds at nearly all points known as their favorite resorting-places. The mothers caress and suckle their offspring seemingly with much affection, fondling them with their fore paws – reclining, in their usual manner – and frequently uttering a plaintive sound, which may have given rise to the saying that "Sea Otters sing to quiet their young ones," and gives some credence to the suggestion that the human-like actions of the animal originated the story about mermaids. But when they are startled, they rise perpendicularly half their length out of the water; and if their quick, sharp eyes discern aught to cause alarm, the cubs are seized by the mouth, and both mother and offspring instantly disappear under water. Males and females are sometimes seen curled up in such shapelessness as to present no appearance of animal form. When in this posture they are said to be sleeping.

      Sea Otters are rarely seen far from shore, their home being among the thick beds of kelp near the beach, or about outlying rocky reefs and islets. Point Grenville, however, seems to be an exception, as there is no kelp in sight from the shore.

      Pursuit and Capture. – About the period of the establishment of Fort Astoria, near the mouth of the Columbia River, and for many succeeding years, the Sea Otter hunters along the coasts of California and Oregon were made up from nearly all the maritime nations of Europe and America, as well as from the different tribes of natives that dwelt near the sea- shore. Those of the former were hardy spirits, who preferred a wild life and adventurous pursuits, rather than civilized employment. The distance coasted in their lightly constructed boats, the stealthy search for the game, and when discovered, the sharp-shooting chase, gave these hunting expeditions a pleasant tinge of venture. Moreover, the taking of Sea Otters on the coasts of the Californias was prohibited by the Mexican government, and the hunters were aware that, if detected, the penalty would be severe; hence, they ever kept a watchful eye on all vessels seen, which were carefully avoided or cautiously approached.

      A peculiar sort of boat is used by the hunters, called an "Otter-canoe." It is fifteen feet long, nearly five wide, and eighteen inches deep. It is sharp at each end, with flaring sides, and but little sheer. Still, these boats are excellent "sea-goers," and are regarded as unsurpassed for landing through the surf, their shape being peculiar. So, likewise, are the paddles for propelling them, which are short, with very broad blades – they being better adapted for use in the thick beds of kelp. The outfit, when going on a cruise, is limited to nearly the barest necessities. Three men usually go in. one boat – two to paddle, and one to shoot; the latter

having two or three favorite rifles, with a supply of ammunition. A little tea, coffee, sugar, flour, or ship-bread, is provided, adding pipes and tobacco, and, as a great luxury, perhaps a keg of spirits completes their equipment.

      All being in readiness, they leave the quiet waters of the harbor, and put to sea, following the general trend of the land, but at times making a broad deviation, to hunt about some islands, miles from the main-land. When an Otter is seen within rifle-shot, instantly the hunter fires; and if only wounding the animal, it dives under the water, but soon re-appears, to be repeatedly shot at until killed. Sometimes, three boats will hunt together. Then they take positions, one on each side, but in advance of the third, and all three in the rear of where the animal is expected to be seen. It is only the practiced eye of the experienced men that can detect the tip of the animal's nose peering above water, and frequently disguised by a leaf of kelp. Occasionally, a large band is met with. Then every exertion is made to keep them within the triangle formed by the boats; and, at such times, a deal of rapid and sharp shooting ensues, and many a bullet sings through the air, or skips over the water, almost as near the pursuers as the animals pursued. However, six, eight, or a dozen Otters are sometimes secured before the main body disperses; and it is rarely any accident occurs by reckless firing.

      From day to day, if the weather is pleasant, they cruise in search of the animals – landing to pass the night at different places well known to them, behind some point or rock that breaks the ocean swell. The landings are made by watching the successive rollers as they break upon the beach, and when a favorable time comes, the boat, under dexterous management, glides over the surf with safety to the shore. It is then hauled up clear of the water, and turned partially over for a shelter, or a tent is pitched. A fire is made of drift-wood, or, if this fail, the dry stalks of the cactus, or a bunch of dead chaparral, serves them; and, if their provisions should be getting short, an excursion is made up some one of the many ravines or intervals – perhaps to a stagnant water-pool, where the deer and antelope in that arid region resort to quench their parching thirst. The unerring rifle brings one to the ground, when out comes the hunter's knife, and cutting the choice pieces from the creature, he sallies back again to camp, and soon has the venison broiling over the coals, and, in due time, it is added to their evening meal, which is partaken of with hearty relish; then follow the pipes, which are enjoyed as only those men of free and easy life can enjoy them. Relieved from all care, these adventurers talk of past exploits or frolics, and finally roll themselves in their blankets for a night's invigorating sleep in the open air. At daybreak they are all awakened by the screams of sea-birds and the barking of coyotes, attracted by the

scent of the encampment. The morning repast over, they again embark in their cockle-shell boats, launch through the surf, gain the open sea, and paddle or sail along the shores in search of "Otter signs." But the scarcity of Otters on the old hunting-grounds has developed the character of these fearless hunters, who, in order to still maintain their game-life, have again reluctantly taken to their pigmy seacraft – a small vessel of forty tons – in which they have stretched across the Pacific to the western Kuriles (the extreme geographical limit of the breeding-grounds), and now successfully pursue them around those rugged islands during summer, returning again to the California shores with their rich booty as winter approaches.

      Hunting from the Shore. – From San Francisco northward, as far as Juan de Fuca Strait, the hunting is chiefly prosecuted by shooting the animals from the shore; the most noted grounds being between Gray's Harbor and Point Grenville – a belt of low coast, lying within the parallels of 46° and 48°, north latitude.

      The white hunter builds his two log-cabins; one, near the southern limits of his beat, and the other at its northern terminus near Point Grenville. During the prevalence of the southerly winter gales he takes up his quarters at the last-named station, as the game is found there more frequently; but when the summer winds sweep down from the north he changes his habitation, and pursues the animals about the breakers of Gray's Harbor. From early dawn until the sun sinks beneath the horizon, the hunter, with rifle in hand and ammunition slung across his shoulder, walks the beach on the lookout for "a shot." The instant one is seen, crack goes the rifle; but it is seldom the animal is secured by one fire. A Sea Otter's head bobbing about in the restless swell is a very uncertain mark; and if instantly killed, the receding tide or adverse wind might drift the animal seaward: so that, even if it eventually drift to shore, it may be far out of sight from the hunters by day, or be thrown on the rocks by the surge during the night, and picked up by some of the strolling Indians who run the beach in quest of any dead seal or Otter that may come in their way.

      The difficulty in shooting from the shore, when the marksman stands nearly on a level with the ever-changing swell, has always been an aggravating annoyance; to avoid which, the hunters now use a sort of ladder, or, as it may be termed, two ladders, joined near the upper ends by a hinge, spreading at the lower ends, forming a triangle – when placed on the beach or in the edge of the water – on which the hunter climbs in order to gain elevation. The ladders are made of light material, so that they can be easily carried at any time, should the sea be ruffled by a local wind or waves from seaward. When an Otter is seen, up go the ladders, and up goes the hunter to the topmost round, and fires. The shot is repeated

very quickly, if the first does not take effect; and ball after ball is sent after the animal, until it is far out of reach. It is estimated that the best shooters average at least twenty-five shots to every Otter obtained, and that about one-half the number killed are secured by the rightful owners; but, when once in their possession, it is quickly fleeced of its valuable skin, which is stretched on the walls of the cabin to dry. It is no unusual occurrence for the hunter to pass a week traveling up and down the beach, and he may shoot sixty or more rounds, and, perhaps, kill several Otters; but, owing to "bad luck," not one may be secured – the carcass either drifting to sea, or to shore, possibly, with the flowing night-tide, and the object so patiently and eagerly sought for is at last stealthily appropriated by some skulking savage.

      Notwithstanding their propensity to purloin, the Indians of the North-western Coast not only occasionally shoot the Sea Otters, as do the whites, but in the months of July and August, when calm weather prevails, they capture them by night. A small canoe is chosen for the purpose, and the implement used to capture the animals is a spear of native make, composed of bone and steel, fitted to a long pole by a socket. Four chosen men make the crew for the canoe. Near the close of day, a sharp lookout is kept for any band of the animals that may have been seen from the shore, and their position accurately defined before beginning the pursuit. All being in readiness, as the shade of evening approaches, they launch their pigmy craft upon the calm sea, and three men paddle in silence toward the place where the Otters were seen, while the fourth takes his station in the bow. He is either a chief, or some one distinguished in the chase. He watches intently for the sleeping Otters. As soon as one is descried, the canoe is headed for it, and, when within reach, the spear is launched into the unwary creature. In its efforts to escape, it draws the spear from the pole. There is a small but strong cord connecting the spear and pole, which admits them to separate a few feet, but does not free the Otter. The animal dives deeply, but with great effort, as the unwieldy pole greatly retards its progress. The keen-eyed savage traces its course, in the blinding darkness, by the phosphorescent light caused by the animal's transit through the water; and when it rises upon the surface to breathe, it is beset with clubs, paddles, and perhaps another spear, and is finally dispatched, after repeated blows or thrusts. The conflict arouses the whole band, which instantly disappear; so that it is seldom more than one is secured. As soon as the hunt is over, the animal is brought on shore, the skin taken off and stretched to dry, and, when ready for market, the lucky owner considers himself enriched to the value of ten or fifteen blankets, and the flesh is devoured as a choice article of food.

      The mode of capturing the Sea Otters between Point Grenville and the Aleutian Islands varies with the different native tribes inhabiting that coast. The Aleutians, dressed in their water-proof garments, made from the intestines of seals, wedge themselves into their baidarkas (which are constructed with a light, wooden frame, and covered with walrus or seal skin), and, donning their hunting-caps, plunge through the surf that dashes high among the crags, and, with almost instinctive skill, reach the less turbulent ground-swell that heaves in every direction. These aquatic men are so closely confined by the narrow build of their boats, and keeping motion with them, too, that their appearance suggests the idea that some undescribed marine monster had just emerged from the depths below. Once clear of the rocks, however, the hunters watch diligently for the Otters. The first man that gets near one darts his spear, then throws up his paddle by way of signal; all the other boats forming a circle around him, at some distance. The wounded animal dives deeply, but soon returns to the surface, near some one of the baidarkas forming the circle. Again the hunter that is near enough hurls his spear and elevates his paddle, and again the ring is formed as before. In this way the chase is continued until the capture is made. As soon as the animal is brought on shore, the two oldest hunters examine it, and the one whose spear is found nearest its head is entitled to the prize.

      The number of Sea Otter skins taken annually is not definitely known, but from the most authentic information we can obtain, the aggregate for the past three years has been five thousand, one thousand of which came from the Kurile Islands; and, valuing each skin at fifty dollars, amounts to the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

      Whether these very valuable fur animals have decreased in numbers within the past few years, is questionable. The hunting of them on the coast of California is no longer profitable for more than two or three hunters, and we believe of late some seasons have passed without any one legitimately engaging in the enterprise; notwithstanding, off Point Grenville, which is an old hunting-ground, sixty Otters were taken by only three hunters during the summer of 1868 – a great annual increase over many past years. It is said the Russian-American Company restricted the number taken yearly by the Aleutian Islanders, from whom the chief supply was obtained, in order to perpetuate the stock. Furthermore, may it not be that these sagacious animals have fled from those places on the coasts of the Californias where they were so constantly pursued, to some more isolated haunt, and now remain unmolested?

CHAPTER VII.

THE WALRUS.

      Eminent naturalists have remarked that the Walrus, or Sea-horse, appears to be the connecting link between the mammals of the land and those of the water. This bulky and unwieldy animal when on shore has some resemblance to the seal, yet differs materially in its proportions, as well as in its elephant-like tusks. The Walrus attains the size of the largest Sea Lion, and measures from ten to fourteen feet in length, and about eight feet in circumference. Its head is rounded, small (when compared with the anterior portion of the body), and flattened in front. Its eyes are diminutive in size, and deeply set; the small orifices of the ears are about three inches behind, and two inches below the eyes. The cheeks are studded with four or five hundred spines or whiskers, some of which are rudimentary, while others grow to the length of three or four inches. They are transparent, curved, abruptly pointed, and about the size of a straw, but not twisted, as has been stated by some writers. Its neck is short, and its unwieldy body is largest about the chest. Its posterior is abrupt.

      By the courtesy of Mr. H. W. Elliott, we present, on the following page figures of the Walrus, copied from his excellent sketches, executed at St. Paul's Island, Behring Sea, in 1872. The tusks of the Walrus are not only a means of defense, but are used in obtaining food, and in mounting the ice-floes, when the shore is not accessible. The canine teeth, as they are sometimes called, may average two feet in length, including the root, which is imbedded in the jaw six or eight inches. Yet some individuals have been taken with tusks two and a half to three feet in length, and each weighing from ten to twenty pounds. In shape they are somewhat bowing, and slightly hollowed, notched, and ridgy at their bases. At their junction with the skull, they are about three inches asunder; they project at an obtuse angle from the upper jaw, and, in some instances, meet at their extremities; while others grow perpendicular to each other, or turn outward on each

side. There is considerable diversity in their length, shape, and size, even in the full-grown tusks, some being very short and stout, while others are elongated and slender. The Walrus has no sharp incisors like the seal. The nostrils are placed on the superior portion of the snout, through which the animal appears to inspire, and expires through its mouth, as it dips its head below the surface, blowing up the water into spray, in such a manner as to resemble the spout of a whale. Never having had an opportunity of taking detailed measurements of the Walrus, we quote from the most reliable authorities: "Its fore feet, or flippers, are from two to two and a half feet in length, and about twelve inches in breadth; they are webbed, and the under sides are protected by a tough skin, a quarter of an inch or more in thickness. The posterior flippers are from two to three feet long, and are

capable of expansion at their extremity nearly equal to their length; each toe is furnished with a small nail." The skin of the animal is thick and somewhat spongy, but exceedingly tough. The hair that covers it in most adult individuals is short and of a dark brown; yet there is no lack of examples where it is of a much lighter shade, or a light but dingy gray. Unlike others of the seal tribe, the animal is abundantly infested with vermin. Under the skin lies the coating of fat which yields oil – it is from two to three inches in thickness. The appearance of the fully developed Walrus in the water, with its long tusks, which seem like an incumbrance, has a striking contrast with that of the common seal. The young, however, before its cumbrous canines protrude, resembles the latter in general form, but is of a black color. On land the Walrus is comparatively inactive and clumsy

in its movements; but in the water its motions are easy and vigorous. Its geographical distribution quite encircles the globe in that colder belt of the northern hemisphere, above the latitude of 45°, and but few individuals are met with south of 47° north. In Behring Sea they are found as far south as the shores of the peninsula of Alaska, and in the Pacific Ocean about several of the islands which fringe the central coast of Alaska Territory. They feed upon shell-fish and other submerged marine productions. The Walrus is gregarious, being sometimes found in herds upon the ice, and at the proper season the animals collect upon the beaches, or they clamber upon rocky islets in remote places. They are said to be monogamous, but we are of the opinion that they are not exclusively so. The season when the sexes seek each other is in the last of the spring months, or the first of the summer. The time of gestation is about nine months. The mother and her offspring manifest a stronger mutual affection than we have observed in any other of the marine mammals; and the cub seeks her protection, clinging to her back whenever there is cause for alarm,^* and she will at all times place herself between the foe and her helpless charge. Frequently has she been known to clasp to her breast the terrified little one, embracing it with her fore flippers, while receiving mortal, wounds from the whaleman's lance. A male, and a female with her cub, are often seen together; yet herds of old and young, of both sexes, are met with, both in the water and upon the ice. When undisturbed they are quite inoffensive, but if hotly pursued they make a fierce resistance; their mode of attack is by hooking their tusks over the gunwales of the boats, which may overturn them, or they strike a blow through the planking, which has repeatedly been the means of staving and sinking them. Captain Lyon remarks: "Mr. Shirer described the fury of the wounded animals as being quite outrageous; but those which were unhurt quickly forsook their suffering companions." There may have been instances of a combined attack of Walruses on besieging boats; but like all other marine mammals which have been continuously pursued, they soon become wary, and when there is cause for alarm they give warning to their neighboring associates by loud

roarings, or if asleep, by pecking at them with their tusks, when all make a precipitate retreat from the ice, or they will tumble and roll over the rocks or rough ground, if on shore, in their flight to the sea, unless detained with their young. "The chase of the Walrus is of great antiquity; accordingly, we find that Ohthere, a Norwegian, about the year 890 gave an account of it to Alfred the Great, having, he says, 'made a voyage beyond Norway for the more commodite of fishing horsewhales, which have in their teeth bones of great price and excellence, whereof he brought some at his return to the King.'"

      The capture of the Walrus is made both upon the water and land. It is stated that a Greenlander will never venture on the encounter alone, nor without the assistance of three or four expert comrades. They employ a harpoon, which, however, from the toughness of the skin, is fixed with difficulty, and hence it is not so easy an operation as the striking of a whale. When the instrument holds, the animal is allowed to swim about until it is wearied; they then try to secure it and kill it with lances. But even under these circumstances the process is not an easy one; the creature, as we have stated, getting roused and fighting a hard battle. It is necessary, according to Zorgdrager, to make a selection. Accordingly, the fishers aim at the eyes, which obliges the animal to turn its head, and then the fatal blow is aimed at the breast. "In this crisis," remarks Scoresby, "the best defense against these enraged animals is sea-sand, which, being thrown into their eyes, occasions partial blindness and obliges them to disperse; then the captured one becomes a more easy prey." According to Lord Sheldham's account of the capture of Walruses upon the land in early times, the hunters, armed with spears, and under cover of night, with trained dogs, made an effort to partially disperse the main herd; then falling upon detachments of the animals, which, being bewildered in the darkness, were then slain in large numbers. Godman relates that one of the Esquimaux modes of killing the Walrus in summer is, when perceiving a large herd asleep on the floating ice, they paddle to some other piece near by, which is small enough to be moved. On this they lift their canoes, and then bore holes, through which they fasten their lines; and when every thing is prepared, they quietly paddle their ice-float toward the herd, each hunter sitting by his own spear and line. "When arrived at the place where the animals lie snoring, each man, if so disposed, strikes a different one, though two generally attack the same. The stricken creature instantly makes great effort to escape, but, although he tumbles into the water, he is held by the spear-lines which are made fast to the ice. As soon as the victim becomes wearied, the hunter launches his canoe, and at a safe distance spears him to death." According to our observation, the manner of

capturing the animals by the natives about the eastern coast of Behring Sea, and in the Arctic Ocean, is by shooting them when on shore with a rifle, and pursuing them when in the water with spears and lances. In approaching the animal in their skin-boats, a paddle formed from a slab of whalebone is employed to gently beat the surface of the sea, which is thought to serve as a kind of decoy to the creature; and when within reach, the spear, with a line of walrus hide attached, is thrust into the object of pursuit, and subsequently it is dispatched by being pierced with knives and other sharp instruments. But the natives of the Pribyloff Islands, and also those of the peninsula of Alaska (who have become excellent marksmen), shoot them with heavy muskets.

      Great numbers of "Walruses are found about the waters of the Arctic uniting with Behring Straits, and in Behring Sea, and innumerable herds still resort in the summer months to different points on the southern or central coasts of Alaska, particularly at Amak Island and Point Moller, on the northern shore of the Alaskan peninsula. Within the last ten years many of these animals have been destroyed by the whalers, both in the Arctic and Behring Seas. The mode of capture was by shooting them when upon the ice with Spencer rifles, or, if in the water, by harpooning and lancing them. To the natives of the coasts where the Walrus frequents, the animal is of indispensable value. The flesh supplies them with food; the ivory tusks are made into implements used in the chase, and for other domestic purposes, as well as affording a valuable article of barter; and the skin furnishes the material for covering their summer habitations, planking for their baidarras, harness for their dog-teams, and lines for their fishing-gear. But the savage native and the civilized fisherman and sailor are not the only enemies of the Walrus. The polar bear seeks them in its prowlings, and when meeting with a herd, the huge beast selects and seizes one of the smallest individuals with his capacious jaws, and the resisting struggles of the poor victim to free itself are quickly suppressed by repeated blows with bruin's paws, which cause almost instant death. The murderous beast then quickly tears the skin from the body by means of his long, sharp claws, when the remains are devoured. That carnivorous animal of the cetacean order, known as the Orca, or Killer, also watches for the young cubs of the Walrus, and if there is floating ice at hand, the mother with her charge clambers upon it to avoid the pursuer; if this fails, however, the cub will mount the mother's back as the only place of refuge. But the Killer is rarely baffled in obtaining the object it seeks by this mode of the mother's protection, for the pursuing animal dives deeply, and then comes head up under the old Walrus, with such force as to throw the cub from the dam's back into the water,

when it is instantly seized and swallowed by its adversary. Instances have been known, however, where the Orca has paid dearly for its murderous temerity, as the enraged Walrus, when bereft of her young, will sometimes strike her tusks into her foe with such effect as to cause a mortal wound or instant death.

      Among the numerous enemies of the Walrus, it is to be regretted that the whalers are included, they having been driven to the necessity of pursuing them on account of the scarcity of Cetaceans. Already the animals have suffered so great a slaughter at their hands that their numbers have been materially diminished, and they have become wild and shy, making it difficult for the Esquimaux to successfully hunt them, in order to obtain a necessary supply of food. It is stated that there has been much suffering among those harmless people of the far north, on account of this source for supplying themselves with an indispensable article of sustenance being to an alarming extent cut off.

      According to The Friend, published at Honolulu, March 1st, 1872, the whalers first began to turn their attention to Walrus-catching about the year 1868, and the work has continued up to the present time. Usually, during the first part of every season there has been but little opportunity to capture whales, they being within the limits of the icy barrier. Hence, much of the whalers' time during the months of July and August has been devoted to capturing the Walrus; and it is estimated that at least sixty thousand of these animals have been destroyed by the whale-fishers in the Arctic Ocean and Behring Sea during the last five years, which produced about fifty thousand barrels of oil, with a proportionate amount of ivory.

PART III.

THE AMERICAN WHALE-FISHERY.

PART III. — THE AMERICAN WHALE-FISHERY.

CHAPTER I.

ORIGIN AND ANCIENT MODE OF WHALE-FISHING.

      Before entering upon the history of the American "Whale-fishery, we will introduce a few remarks relative to the origin and prosecution of whaling in other quarters of the world. If we go back to the time of the early Grecian sailors, and follow through the maritime history of every nation, there appears to be no positive record as to the time when, or place where, whale-fishing originated. In the collection of various whaling and exploring voyages which we have perused, nearly all the authors agree that the Basques and Biscayans were the first to capture whales as a regular commercial pursuit. Eminent writers, however, maintain that the Norwegians were the first to pursue those leviathans of the deep, and that they carried on a fishery long before any other European nation. It may be possible that the Norwegians were the first who made the whale-fishery a legitimate business. This, however, seems to be very doubtful, when we look to the shores of Japan and Chinese Tartary, where, ever since we have been in possession of any reliable knowledge of that region and its inhabitants, we know that the Japanese and Tartars have successfully pursued the whale in large boats from their shores. Among the American authorities relative to the foreign whale-fishery is the Hon. J. Ross Browne, who, having had recourse to the Congressional Library at the time of compiling his Etchings of a Whaling Cruise, and History of the Whale-fishery, has given, in the appendix to that work, a concise and somewhat chronological account of whaling commerce, beginning as early as 887, and following down to the present century, from which we shall quote numerous statistics of that eminent writer, as also extracts from the works of other authors.

      "As early as 887, according to Anderson (in his Historical and Chronological

Deduction of the Origin of Commerce), or, as Hakluyt thinks, about 890, 'Our excellent King Alfred' received from one Octher [Ohthere?], a Norwegian, an account of his discoveries northward on the coast of Norway; a coast which seems to have been before very little, if at all, known to the Anglo-Saxons. There is one very remarkable thing in this account; for he tells King Alfred 'that he sailed along the Norway coast, so far north as commonly the whale-hunters used to travel;' which shows the great antiquity of whale-fishing; though undoubtedly then, and long after, the use of what is usually called whalebone was not known; so that they fished for whales merely on account of their fat or oil. Octher, after giving a very curious description of the country inhabited by the Finmans, proceeds to say, 'he visited this country also with a view of catching horse-whales, which had bones of very great value for their teeth, of which he brought some to the king; that their skins were good for making ropes for ships. These whales are much less than other whales, being only five ells long. The best whales were caught in his own country, of which some were forty-eight, some fifty yards long. He said that he was one of six who had killed sixty in two days.'"^*

      "These horse-whales, spoken of by Octher, were what we call sea-horses, and the Dutch, sea-cows, or morses. It is probable that the length of the whales caught in his own country is greatly exaggerated. Beale quotes from many of the ancient writers instances of extraordinary exaggerations of this kind, and doubts whether any whales were ever seen of a greater length than eighty or ninety feet, even admitting they were once found of larger growth than any now seen or captured. The earliest authentic data that I have been able to find respecting the origin of the whale-fishery, as a regular and permanent branch of trade, is that furnished by M'Culloch in his Commercial Dictionary; which, although little more than a condensation from the works of Anderson, Macpherson, and others, is of a more reliable character than any similar compilation I have met with. At the time

      the inhabitants of Massachusetts were making their first attempts in the capture of the whale (about 1650), the Biscayans had already extensively engaged in that business; the Dutch and the English had followed their example; the Russian Company had obtained an exclusive charter for it, and many other nations of Europe had directed their attention to the northern fisheries."

      "It is probably true, as has been sometimes contended," says M'Culloch, "that the Norwegians occasionally captured the whale before any other European nation engaged in so perilous an enterprise. But the early efforts of the Norwegians were not conducted on any systematic plan, and should only be regarded in the same point of view as the fishing expeditions of the Esquimaux. The Biscayans were certainly the first people who prosecuted the whale-fishery as a regular commercial pursuit. They carried it on with great vigor and success in the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth centuries. In 1261, a tithe was laid upon the tongues of whales imported into Bayonne, they being there a highly esteemed species of food. In 1388, Edward III relinquished to Peter de Puayanne a duty of six pounds sterling a whale, laid on those brought into the port of Biarritz, to indemnify him for the extraordinary expenses he had incurred in fitting out a fleet for the service of his majesty. This fact proves beyond dispute that the fishery carried on from Biarritz at the period referred to must have been very considerable indeed; and it was also prosecuted to a great extent from Cibourre, Vieux Boucan, and subsequently from Rochelle and other places. The whales captured by the Biscayans were not so large as those that are taken in the Polar Seas, and are supposed to have been attracted southward in the pursuit of herrings. They were not very productive of oil, but their flesh was used as an article of food, and the whalebone was applied to a variety of useful purposes, and brought a very high price."

      In 1554, Pierre Belon writes concerning the Right Whale, or at least one of the baleen whales, as follows: "The animal which we call the whale (baleen) was named by the ancient Greeks, phalene; by the Latins, balena; and is designated by the Italians as the capodoglio (oil-head). It is generally considered to be the largest of all fishes, as may well be supposed from the size of the bones and ribs of the animal, which is enormous, so that they have been much wondered at when exhibited. It is for this reason that some have called it the Cete. There is no ground for believing that the whale has two large horns on its head, as some have drawn this animal; but there is a kind of tube on the upper part of the head, which does not, however, rise above the skin, and the existence of which only becomes apparent when the animal throws out the water through it, which has been taken in by the muzzle. This it does sometimes with such violence that

ships have been capsized by it" (the jet of water). "It is also believed that the whale, like the porpoise and the dolphin, jumps entirely out of the water in order to take breath, and even that it has been heard blowing from a great distance off. This fish has neither hair nor scales, but is covered with smooth, hard, black, and thick skin, or hide, under which there is a layer of fat fully a foot in thickness, and this is what is sold during Lent. The tongue is marvelously large, and excellent eating; and it is customary to salt and preserve it, as is also done with all the rest of the flesh of this fish. And that which is called whalebone (coste de balene – literally, whale's ribs), with which ladies nowadays make their corsets and stiffen out their dresses, and which the beadles of some churches carry as wands – these are certain pieces cut off and drawn out from that which serves as eye-lids for the whale, and which covers his eyes, and which is furnished at its extremity with a kind of long, stiff hair. This is what the Latins call the pretentures, and which they say enables the animal to direct his course through the sea. As far as the other exterior and interior parts of the whale are concerned, they clearly resemble those of the sea-hog, and, making allowance for size, those of the porpoise and dolphin."

      Although this writer in some points gives us a very erroneous account of the whalebone whale, yet in a general view it is an intelligible description of the animal; and it also establishes the fact that the animal's baleen, fat, and flesh were utilized at that period, the former being used as at the present day to distort the figures of women in their dress, and the latter was esteemed as luxurious food. The author's figure of the balaena is almost entirely in error, yet it is hardly more so than the representations of the same animal which may be found in popular works of the present century. We continue to quote from M'Culloch:

      "This branch of industry among the Basques and Biscayans ceased long since, and from the same cause that has occasioned the cessation of the whale-fishery in many other places – the want of fish. "Whether it was that the whales, from a sense of the dangers to which they exposed themselves in coming southward, no longer left the icy sea, or that the breed had been nearly destroyed, certain it is that they gradually became less numerous in the Bay of Biscay, and at length ceased almost entirely to frequent that sea; and the fishers being obliged to pursue their prey upon the banks of Newfoundland and the coasts of Iceland, the French fishery rapidly fell off. The voyages of the Dutch and English to the Northern Ocean, in order, if possible, to discover a passage through it to India, though they failed of their main object, laid open the haunts of the whale. The companions of Barentz, who discovered Spitzbergen in 1596, and of Hudson, who

      soon after explored the same seas, represented to their countrymen the amazing number of whales with which they were crowded.^* Vessels were in consequence fitted out for the northern whale-fishery by the English and Dutch, the harpooners and a part of the crew being Biscayans. They did not, however, confine their efforts to a fair competition with each other as fishers. The Muscovy Company obtained a royal charter, prohibiting the ships of all other nations from fishing in the seas round Spitzbergen, on pretext of its having first been discovered by Sir Hugh Willoughby. There can, however, be no doubt that Barentz, and not Sir Hugh, was its original discoverer; though, supposing that the fact had been otherwise, the attempt to exclude other nations from the surrounding seas on such a ground was not one that could be tolerated. The Dutch, who were at that time prompt to embark in a commercial pursuit that gave any hope of success, eagerly entered on this new career, and sent out ships fitted equally for the purposes of fishing and of defense against the attacks of others. The Muscovy Company having attempted to vindicate its pretensions by force, several encounters took place between their ships and those of the Dutch. The conviction at length became general that there was room enough for all parties in the northern seas; and in order to avoid the chance of coming into collision with each other, they parceled Spitzbergen and the adjacent ocean in districts, which they respectively assigned to the English, Dutch, Hamburgers, French, Danes, etc. The Dutch, thus left to prosecute the fishery without having their attention diverted by hostile attacks, speedily acquired a decided superiority over all their competitors. When the Europeans first began to prosecute the fishery on the coast of Spitzbergen, whales were everywhere found in vast numbers. Ignorant of the strength and stratagems of the formidable foe by which they were now assailed, instead of betraying any symptoms of fear, they surrounded the ships and crowded all the bays. Their capture was, in consequence, a comparatively easy task, and many were killed which it was afterward necessary to abandon, from the ships being already full. While fish were thus easily obtained, it was the practice to boil the blubber on shore in the north, and fetch home only the oil and whalebone; and perhaps nothing can give a more vivid idea of the extent and importance of the Dutch fishery in the middle of the seventeenth century, than the fact that they constructed a considerable village (the

      houses of which were all previously prepared in Holland, on the isle of Amsterdam), on the northern shore of Spitzbergen, to which they gave the appropriate name of Smeerenberg (from smeeren, to melt, and berg, a mountain). This was the grand rendezvous of the Dutch whale-ships, and was amply provided with boilers, tanks, and every sort of apparatus required for preparing the oil and bone. But this was not all. The whale-ships were attended with a number of provision-ships, the cargoes of which were landed at Smeerenberg, which abounded during the busy season with well-furnished shops, good inns, etc., so that many of the conveniences and enjoyments of Amsterdam were found within about eleven degrees of the Pole! It is particularly mentioned that the sailors and others were every morning supplied with what a Dutchman regards as a very great luxury, hot rolls for breakfast. Batavia and Smeerenberg were founded nearly at the same period, and it was for a considerable time doubted whether the latter was not the more important establishment. (De Reste, Histoire des Peches, etc., tome i, p. 42.)

      "During the flourishing period of the Dutch fishery, the quantity of oil made in the north was so great that it could not be carried on by the whale-ships, and every year vessels were sent out in ballast to assist in importing the produce of the fishery. But the same cause which had destroyed the fishery of the Biscayans ruined that which was carried on in the immediate neighborhood of Spitzbergen. Whales became gradually less common, and more and more difficult to catch. They retreated first to the open seas, and then to the great banks of ice on the eastern coast of Greenland. When the site of the fishery had thus been removed to a very great distance from Spitzbergen, it was found most economical to send the blubber direct to Holland. Smeerenberg was, in consequence, totally deserted, and its position is now with difficulty discernible. When in the most flourishing state, toward 1680, the Dutch whale-fishery employed about two hundred and sixty ships and fourteen thousand sailors."

      Frederic Marten, who made a voyage to Spitzbergen and Greenland during the summer of 1671, gives a quaint account of the British whalers at that period, from which we extract the following:

      "We set sail the 15th of April, 1671, about noon, from the island of Elbe. The name of the ship was Jonas in the Whale, Peter Peterson, of Frisland, master." Having arrived at Spitzbergen, the writer continues: "On the 5th of June, in the forenoon, it was moderately cold and sunshiny, but toward noon darkish and cloudy, with snow and great frost. We saw daily many ships sailing about the ice. I observed that as they passed by one another, they hailed one another, crying Holla! and asked each other how many fish they had caught, but would not stick

sometimes to tell more than they had. When it is windy, that they could not hear one another, they waved their hats to signifie the number caught. But when they have their full freight of whales, they put up their great flag as a sign thereof; then if any hath a message to be sent, he delivers it to them. On the 12th of July we had a gloomy sun – sunshine all day. We saw but very few whales more, and those we did see were quite wild, that we could not come near them. That night it was so dark and foggy that we could hardly see the ship's length. We might have got sea-horses enough, but we were afraid of losing our ships, for we had examples enough of them that had lost their ships, and could not come to them again, but have been forced to return home in other ships. When after this manner any have lost their ships, and can not be seen, they discharge a cannon from the ship, or sound the trumpets or hautboys, according as they are provided in their ships, that the men that are lost may find their ships again."

      As to the mode of capturing and flaying the mysticetus, as well as the process of extracting the oil from the blubber, the narrator gives the following description, under the headings respectively of "How they Catch the Whale," "What they do with the Dead Whale," and "Of the Trying out of the Train-oyl from the Fat."

      "First, it is to be observ'd, that when it's like to be a good year to catch whales in, there is many white-fish to be seen before: but where we see many seales, there we do not expect to meet with many whales; for they say, that they eat up the food of the whale, wherefore the whales will not stay in such empty places, but go to find out better, and so come to Spitzbergen, for there, at the shoar, we see great plenty of the small sea-snails, and perhaps some other small fish. They are caught after the following manner: When they see whales, or when they hear them blow or spout, they call in to the ship, Fall, fall; then every body must be ready to get into the long-boat that he doth belong to; commonly six men go into every long-boat, and sometimes seven, according as the long-boats are in bigness; they all of them row until they come very near unto the whale; then doth the harpoonier arise, who sits always before in the boat, where the harpoon, or the sharp iron made like unto an arrow fixed to a stick, doth also lie on the foremost board of the long-boat, which the seamen call the Staffen, that is, the broad piece of wood that cometh up before the boat from the bottom, and stands up higher than all the rest. But when the whale runs strait down towards the bottom underneath the water, then he doth draw the rope very hard, so that the upper part of the long-boat is even with the surface of the water; nay, he would certainly pull it down to the bottom, if they

should not give him rope enough. This he doth commonly where the sea is deepest; and this doth require an incredible force to draw so many hundred fathoms of rope under water. This gives me occasion to remember, that when we on the 27th of April, in the year 1672, did fling out our lead, near St. Kilda, behind Scotland, into the sea, where it was one hundred and twenty fathom deep, when the weather was calm, and when we would pull it up again, it was so heavy that twenty men had much to do to heave it. The harpoonier taketh his harpoon, and holds the point, or the iron thereof, together with the rope or line of five or seven fathom long, about an inch thick, and is laid up round like a ring, that it may not hinder the harpoon when it is flung, for as soon as he doth fling or dart the harpoon, this line follows; for it is more pliable than the rest that are fastened to it, wherewith they pursue the whale. It is made of the finest and softest hemp, and not daubed with tar, but it doth swell in the water, and so it grows hard. The harpoonier darts his harpoon with the right hand at the fish. When the whale is hit with the harpoon, all the men that are in the long-boat turn themselves about and look before them, and they lay their oars nimbly upon the sides of the long-boat. There is a man in the long-boat, whose business it is to look after the rope; for in each of these long-boats there is a whole heap of lines, between the two seats or benches; this heap is divided into three, four, or five parts, and each of them is of eighty, ninety, to one hundred fathoms long. The first of them is ty'd to the fore-runner, or small line; as the whale runs under the water, they tye more and more line to it, and if in one boat there should not be enough, they make use of those that are in the other long-boats. These ropes or lines are thicker and stronger than the forerunner, and are made of strong and tough hemp, and tarr'd over. The line-furnisher, or the man that doth look after the ropes, and also the other men that are in the long-boat, must have great care that the ropes or lines may not be entangled when they run out so swift, or that they may not run towards the side of the long-boat, for then the long-boat would be overset, and many men lose their lives, if other long-boats were not near to their assistance. The line must run just before, in the middle of the long-boat, that is called the Stave by the seamen, and by reason of this strong and violent motion, the wood and rope would be set on fire. But to prevent this, the harpoonier hath a wet rag ty'd to a stick (like unto a mop) ready at hand, wherewith he wets the wood without ceasing. The other three men that are in the long-boats take also care of the lines, as well when they are let out, as when they are taken in again; and when they can not hold it with their hands, they wind it about the staves of the boat,

      and so they do stop it from going any further. Another, that is called the steerman, stands behind in the long-boat, and steers the boat with an oar, and he takes great care, and minds the rope, to see which way it runs out, for if it doth go towards either side, and doth not run just before over the stave, he so guides the boat, that it may run exactly out before. The whale runs away with the long-boat as swift as the wind. If the harpoonier can, he doth dart the harpoon just behind the spout- hole of the whale, or in the thick fat of his back, where they also do launce him, for that maketh him spout blood sooner than if wounded in any other place, and die sooner than if you should launce them into their belly, or through the guts. The first whale we caught spouted blood in such a quantity, that the sea was tinged by it wherever he swam, whereunto the Mallemucks flock'd in great numbers, as I have mentioned before. They also launce the whales near their privy-parts, if they can come at it; for if they are run in there, it doth pain them very much; nay, even when they are almost dead, if you run in your launce thereabout, it causes the whole body to tremble. For the most part they do not much mind where they launce or push them; for there is no time to take deliberation, but they strike at him as well as they can. But about the head the harpoon can do him no hurt, because the fat is but very thin there on the bones, which the whales know as well as we; for when they find themselves in danger, so that they can not escape the harpoon, they rather leave their head than their back undefended, for there the harpoon breaks out easier, and so the whale gets away, like one that hath no mind to fight any longer. The use of the harpoon is, to tye, as it were, the whales with them, that they may not run away. It is shaped like an arrow before: it hath two sharp beards, they are sharp at the edge, and have a broad back, like unto a hatchet that is sharp before and blunt behind, or on the back, so that it may not cut with its back, for else it would tear out, and all your labour would be lost. The iron handle is thicker behind than before, and it is hollow, whereinto they put the stick. Before this hollow part, the fore-goer is fasten'd or ty'd, that is to say the foremost rope. Those are the best harpoons that are made of clean and fine steel, and are not hardened too much, so that you may bend it without snapping, for oftentimes two hundred pounds are lost (for a midling whale is esteem'd at so much) in a minute's time for want of a good and well-temper'd harpoon. The wooden stick is fastened within the iron collet or funnel of the harpoon, with packthread wound all about the iron; somewhat higher up, about two spans off, there is a hole made through the stock. The harpoon is light behind, and heavy towards the point, or before, like an arrow, that is made heavy before with iron, and light behind with feathers,

      so that fling it which way you will, it doth fall always upon the point. Through this hole cometh a piece of packthread, wherewith the end of the fore-runner is fastened to the handle or stock of the harpoon, but this is soon torn off, and it serveth for nothing more after the harpoon sticks in the body of the whale; neither is the wooden handle of any further use, and so it doth soon come out from the iron. When the whale is struck with the harpoon, all the other longboats row out before, and take notice which way the line doth stand, and sometimes they pull at the rope or line. If it is stiff and heavy, the whale doth draw it still with his might; but if it doth hang loose, so that the long-boat is before and behind equally high out of the water, then the men pull in the rope again, and the rope-giver layeth it down in very good order, round, and one row above the other, that if the whale should draw on again, he may have it ready to give him without being entangled. Here is also this to be observed, that if the whale runs upon the level, they must not give him too much rope, for if he should turn and wind himself much and often about, he might easily wind the rope about a rock or heavy stone, and so fasten it to it, and so the harpoon would come out, and all the labour would be lost, which hath often hapned, and we ourselves lost one that way. The other long-boats that are towed behind, wherein the men look all before them, and sit still, and let the whale draw them along. If the whale doth rowl upon the ground, so that the long-boats or sloops lye still, they draw their lines in again by degrees, and the rope-master doth lay them down again in their proper places, as they had been laid before. When they kill the whale with launces, they also pull their lines in again, untill they come near to the whale, yet at some distance, that the others may have room to launce. But they must have great care, that all the lines of every sloop may not be cut off together, because some whales sink, and others do swim even with the water when they are dead, which nobody can tell beforehand, whether they will do one or the other. The fat ones do not sink presently after they are fresh killed, but the lean ones sink immediately after they are dead, but after some few days they come up again, and swim on the water. But it would be too long a while for a man to stay till he cometh up again, and the sea is never so quiet that one can stay long in the same place; and where the sea is quiet, and without waves, there the stream doth carry the ships and the ice along together, so that we should be forced to leave the whale unto others, that would find him dead some days after. 'Tis true, this is the easiest way to catch whales, but it is very nasty and stinking work; for long and white maggots grow in their flesh, they are flat, like unto worms that breed in men's bellies, and they smell worse than ever I smelt anything in my life. The

      longer the whale lies dead in the water, the higher he doth swim above it; some swim a foot high above the water, others to their middle, and then they do burst easily, and give a very great report. They begin immediately to stink, and this encreases hourly, and their flesh boils and ferments like unto beer or ale, and holes break in their bellies, and their guts come out. If any man is enclined to sore eyes, this vapor inflames them immediately, as if quicklime was flung into them. But when the live whales rise and swim again, some of them are astonish'd, others wild or stark mad. To those that are wild we come softly or gently from behind, as we do when we are going to trapan them; for when the wind is down, the weather calm, and air serene, so that the sea doth not foam or roar, the whales hear immediately the striking of the oars.

      "If many small ice-sheets lye near to one another, so that we can not follow the whale with our sloops or long-boats, we fetch in our line with all might and strength, and if with one or more pulls we can fetch out the harpoon, it is well, if not, we chop off the rope or line. The whale is best and surest struck with a harpoon when he spouts water, as is already said above, for we do observe, that when they lie still and very quiet, that they then listen, and are sometimes under, and sometimes above water, so that their back doth not quite dry, and before we are aware of it he flings up his tail behind out of the sea, and so bids us good-by. The whales may easily be caught when the air is very serene and clear, and the sea quiet, and where there float neither great nor small ice-sheets, so that we may go in between them with our boats or sloops, to follow them; for at the ice-fields the whales do commonly lye and rub themselves at them, perhaps by reason of the lice that bite them. Besides, against the ice-sheets the sea beats, dashes, and foams, with small curling waves, so that the whales do not observe nor mind the striking of the oars, and so they are easily struck with the harpoon. It is very dangerous to kill a female, chiefly when she is big with young, for they defend themselves very long, and are harder to be kill'd than a male one. Oftentimes the long-boats wait six or seven hours, nay, a whole day, for a whale, before they see one.

      "Where great quantity of small ice is crowded together, there it is also very dangerous, and hard to come to the whale, for he is so cunning, that when he perceives where the ice is he retires thither immediately. The harpoonicr stands at the head of the long-boat, and doth draw on the rope, to try whether it is heavy or light; if it feels heavy, so that we are afraid that it will pull the boat under water, then we give him more rope; if he runs strait out before, he draweth the sloops after him. If he doth run underneath a great ice-field, the harpoonier taketh

a knife in his hand, which they call the chopping-knife, and if the ice-field be hollow, or spongy, or full of holes in the middle, so that the whale can fetch breath underneath it, and the rope is not long enough to follow him, and if the ice be several miles long, they draw the rope in as much as possibly they can, until it be strait, and then he chops it off, loosing the piece of the rope whereon the harpoon is fastened, that sticketh in the body of the whale, yet not without great loss, for oftentimes they run away with the lines that belong to five and more sloops. It happens very often, that they run to the ice with the long-boats, so that they dash against it, as if they would break it into pieces, which also very often happens. But when the whale rises again, they oftentimes fling one or two more harpoons into him, according as they find he is tired more or less; then he dives under water again. Some swim or run even all along on the water, and they play with their tail and fins, so that we must have great care that we may not come too near them. When the whales fling their tails about in this manner, they wind the line about their tail, so that we need not to fear the harpoon tearing out, for then they are ty'd strong and firm enough with the rope. After they are wounded, they spout with all their might and main, so that you may hear them as far off as you may a cannon; but when they are quite tired, it cometh out only by drops, for he hath not strength enough to force the water up, and therefore it sounds as if you held an empty mug or bottle under water, and the water runs into it. And this sound is a certain sign of his feebleness, and that he is going to expire. Some whales blow blood to the very last, after they have been wounded, and these dash the men in the long-boats most filthily, and dye the sloops red as if they were painted with a red colour; nay, the very sea is tinged red all along where they swim. Those whales that are mortally wounded heat themselves, that they reek while they are alive, and the birds sit on them, and eat on them while they are still alive. When the whales blow up the water, they fling out with it some fattish substance that floats upon the sea like sperm, and this fat the Mallemucks devour greedily, of which several thousands attend him, so that a whale often hath more attendants than a king hath servants. Sometimes also the harpoons break out; then often long-boats of other ships attend, and as soon as they see that the harpoon is come out, they fling their own into him, and the whale is theirs, altho' the first harpoon hath almost kill'd the whale, yet if he doth get loose, the second party claims him, and the first must look for another. Sometimes at the same time two harpoons, belonging to two several ships, are struck into the whale; such ones are divided equally, and each one hath half: the other two, or three, or more sloops, as many as there is of them, wait for the whales coming up again, and when they

      see that he is tir'd, they kill him outright with launces. In doing this is the greatest danger, for the first that do fling the harpoon into him are drawn along by the whale, and are at a good distance from him, but those that kill him with launces are as well upon his body as at his sides, according as the whale turns and winds himself, and they receive many severe blows. Here the steerman must take care to observe how the whale runs and turns himself about, that the harpoonier may reach him with his launces; all the other men in the sloops row diligently, sometimes forwards, and sometimes backwards, which they call rowing on and striking, and when the whale lifts up himself out of the water, he commonly doth strike about with his tail and fins, that the water dasheth up like dust. A long-boat he values no more than dust, for he can beat it all into shatters at a blow; but a great ship is too hard for him, and if he strikes against it with his tail, he feels it more than the ship, for he doth so paint the ship with his own blood, that it maketh him very feeble. A good steerman is next unto the harpoonier most useful in the sloop; he steers with one oar and doth look out before; the other four men turn their back to the head, and look towards the stern, therefore doth the steerman and harpoonier always cry, row on, or strike, that is to say, row near to the whale, or else keep farther off. The launces have a wooden stick or handle above two fathoms long, or somewhat shorter than a pikestaff; the iron thereof is commonly a fathom long, and pointed before like unto a pike; it is made of steel or tough iron, that it may bend without breaking. For after you have made a deep hole in his body with your launces, you poke into it with them one way and the other way, as they do when they poke for eels, but if he doth get one or more out of your hands, you take another, for every sloop hath at least five, six, or seven, and yet sometimes he has them all out of three, four, or more boats sticking in his body.

      "After the whale is killed they cut off his tail; some keep the tail and fins, and hang them up at the outside of their ship, for that defends them from the ice when it presseth upon the ship. The tail hinders the boat in its course, because it doth lye across, and that is the reason why they cut it off. Before the tail they fasten a piece of a rope, and at the other end at the stern of the last sloop. There is in all four or five sloops fastened to one another behind, and so they row one behind the other to the great ship. "When they have brought the whale to the ship, they tye it with ropes fast to the ship; that part where the tail is cut off they fasten to the fore-part of the ship, and the head towards the stern, about the middle, near the great shrowds of the mainmast on the larboard of the ship; it is seldom that a whale doth reach farther than from the poop to the middle of

the ship, except the vessels are very small. By the larboard is to be understood that side of the ship that is at your right hand as you go from before towards the stern; but that side of the ship that is on your right hand as you go from the stern towards the fore-part is called star-board, because you go from the steer forward.

      "Whoever of the ships' crews sees a dead whale, cries out Fish mine, and therefore the merchants must pay him a ducat, for his care and vigilance. Many of them climb often up into the mast, in hopes to have a ducat, but in vain. When the dead whale is thus fastened to the ship, two sloops hold on the other side of the fish or whale, and in each of them doth stand a man or boy, that has a long hook in his hands, wherewith he doth hold the boat to the ship, and the harpoonier stands before in the sloop, or upon the whale, with a leathern suit on, and sometimes they have boots on. Underneath the hook are some sharp nails fixed, that they may be able to stand firm, for the whale is very slippery, so that one may easily fall, as upon slippery ice. These two men that cut the fat off have their peculiar wages for it, viz: about four or five rix-dollars. First, they cut a large piece from behind the head, by the eyes, which they call the Kenter-piece, that is as much as to say the winding-piece; for as they cut all the other fat all in rows, from the whale towards the end, so they cut this great kenter-piece larger and wider than all the rest. This piece, when it is cut round about from the whale, reaches from the water to the cradle, (that is the round circle that goeth round about the middle of the mast, and is made in the shape of a basket), from whence you may guess at the bigness of a whale. A strong and thick rope is fixed to this kenter-piece, and the other end is fixed underneath the cradle, whereby the whale is as it was born up out of the water, that they may come at it, and by reason of the great weight of the whale, the ship leans towards that side. One may judge how tough the fat is, for in this piece an hole is made, through which the rope is fastened, yet not deep into the fat, wherewith they turn the fish at pleasure. Then, as is before said, they cut another piece down hard by this, that is also hauled up to the ship; and then in the ship they cut it into less pieces about a foot square. These two men have in their hands, as well as those that stand on the whale, long knives, wherewith they cut these square pieces. These knives are, with their hafts, about the length of a man; and the more the fat of the whale is loosened, just as the hide is flea'd from an ox, the higher must they pull up the fat with their pulleys, that they may cut it the easier. And when they have drawn up this fat, the men take it to them into the ship, and loosen the rope that it was fastened unto. The rope is fastened with a ring whereinto they

put a great iron hook, which is fastened to a strong tackle, and also sometimes, before in the ship, are fix'd two other tackle, wherewith all the fat is drawn up into the ship. In the ship stand two men, with hooks as long as a man, wherewith they hold the great piece of fat, which the two men cut into square pieces with their long knives. By them stands another, that hath a short hook with a ring in his hands, which he thrusts into the pieces of fat that are cut square, and puts it upon the bench or dressing-board, where it is cut by others into less pieces. The two first men with their long knives, that cut the large pieces of fat, stand near the larboard of the ship, at that side where the whale is fix'd, and the other men, that afterwards cut it into less pieces, stand on the other side call'd starboard. When it is a good time to catch whales, and they will not lose it, they tow sometimes several fish behind their ship, and catch more; and they cut only the great pieces of fat of them, and fling them underneath into the ship. But when they have no more vessels to put their fat into, they sail into an harbor; or if it be calm weather, and not windy, they stay in the sea, and fasten themselves to a sheet of ice, and so they drive along with the stream. The other men cut the fat into small pieces, on a table; on the further side of the table is a nail fastened, whereunto they fasten a hook, which they put into the fat, that it may may lye steddy when they cut it into small pieces; the fat is tough to cut, wherefore it must lie firm. That side whereon the skin is they lay undermost, and so cut the fat from it by pieces. The knives wherewith they cut the fat into small pieces are less than the other, about three foot long with their hafts. They all cut from them that they may not be bedaubed with the fat, which might occasion a shrinking-up and lameness of the sinews of their hands and arms. One of them cuts the soft and tough fat into small pieces with a long knife; this man they call the chopper, and he is mightily daubed, wherefore he doth hang about him all sorts of rags and clouts he can get. The fat of some whales is white, of others yellow, and of some red. The white fat is full of small sinews, and it does not yield so much oyl as the yellow. The yellow fat that looks like butter is the best. The red and watery fat cometh from dead whales, for in the place where the fat runs out the blood settles in its room, and yields the worst and least oyl. Before the table is a gutter made of two boards nailed together, whereinto the small or minced fat is flung; by it stands a boy that shuffles the fat by degrees into a bag that is fixed to the end of the gutter, and is like unto a pudding-bag, so that it reaches down into the ship; out of this bag the fat runs down into a tub or wooden funnel, which they put upon empty vessels, or cardels, as they call them, and the men that are below in the ship fill them with it, and so it is kept until

they try it up into train-oyl. "When the fat is cut off from one side of the whale, before they turn him they cut out the whalebone in one entire piece; and this is so heavy that all the ship's crew hath enough to do to pull it up. They make use, for that purpose, of a peculiar sort of hooks, two whereof they fix on the sides, and one on the middle of it, very well provided with strong tackle, and afterwards they cut out the whalebone of the other side of the fish, and draw it up also with pulleys into the ship, where it is cut into such pieces as they bring it hither in. The whalebone doth only belong to the owners of the ship, and the others that run their hazard, whether they catch few or many whales. The rest, which take their pay by the month, receive their money when they come home, whether they have caught many or none, and the loss or gain falls upon the merchants. The hooks that they crane up the whalebone withal, are made on purpose for it, like a beam of a pair of scales; on each end are two sharp points, which they knock in between the whalebone; in the middle of the beam is fastened a long handle with a ring, whereon the ropes are fastened; on this handle there are fixed two other crooked hooks like bird's claws; in the ring where the ropes are fastened is another crooked hook, at the top fastened by a ring, such a one as we make use of here when we wind anything up by a crane; but in the middle between these two hooks is fastened another rope, which keeps the lowermost hook steddy; the two hindmost points are knocked into the whalebone behind, and the two foremost short ones before, which hold the whalebone fast between them when it is wound or pulled up.

      "The dead whales, when the fat is cut off of them, they let float, and are the food of the birds of prey when they are hungry; but they had rather have dead whales that have still their fat left on them. The white bear is generally not far off, whether there be any fat left on them or no, and look like dogs that only feed upon carrion, and at that time their white fur is turned into a yellow colour, and at the same time they shed their hair, and their skins are worth very little. Where a dead whale is near, we see it by the birds, whereof are many, and also the white bears discover it, chiefly in the spring, when but few whales are caught, for then they are greedy of their prey; afterwards, when many whales float on the sea, they have their bellies full, and we do not find so many by a whale, because they are dispersed.

      "Formerly the Dutch did try out their train-oyl in Spitzbergen, at Smeerenberg, and about the Cookery of Harlingen, where still, for a remembrance, all sorts of tools belonging thereunto are to be seen, whereof I have made mention before. The Frenchmen try up their train-oyl in their ships, and by that means many

ships are burnt at Spitsbergen; and this was the occasion of the burning of two ships in my time. They try out their train-oyl at Spitzbergen, that they may load the more fat in their ships; and they believe it to be very profitable, for they go their voyage upon part, that is to say, they receive more or less, according to what they catch: but I do not account it wisdom to fill up the room of the ship with wood, where they might stow vessels. But our countrymen, as I told you before, put the fat into the vessels, wherein it doth ferment just like beer; and I know no instance that ever any vessel did fly in pieces, although they are stopt up very close, and so it becometh for the greatest part train-oyl in them. Of the fresh fat of whales, when it is burnt out you lose twenty in the hundred, more or less, according as it is in goodness. At the place where they try up the fat into train-oyl, near Hamburg, they try up the fat out of the vessels into a great wooden trough or tub, and out of this two men empty it into a great kettle that stands near it, that doth hold two cardels of fat, that makes one hundred and twenty, one hundred and thirty, and sometimes one hundred and forty gallons. Underneath this copper that is made up with bricks they put the fire, and so they boil it, and try it up into train-oyl, as you try up other fat. This copper is very well secured, as the dyers' coppers use to be; it is very broad and flat, just like a frying-pan made of copper. When the fat is well tryed or fryed out, they take it out of the pan with small kettles, into a great sieve, that the liquid only may run through; the rest is thrown away. This sieve stands over a great tub, which is above half filled with cold water, that the hot train-oyl may be cooled, and that what is unclean and dirty of the blood and other soil may fall to the bottom, and only the clear train-oyl swim at the top of the water, like other oyl. In this great tub or trough is a small spout or tap, which doth run out over another as big as a tub, out of which the train-oyl runs into another tub, when it is almost ready to run over, which is also filled with cold water to the middle, wherein it is more cooled, and becomes clearer, and more refined than it was before. In this trough is another spout, through which the train-oyl runs into the warehouse into a vatt, whereout they fill it into cardels or vessels. Some have but two tubs. A cardel or hogshead holds sixty-four gallons. A true train-oyl barrel doth hold thirty-two gallons. The greaves they try up the second time, and make brown train-oyl out of it; others that think it not worth their while, fling them away."

      Having submitted a brief sketch of primitive European whaling commerce, deduced from the most reliable papers and publications accessible to us, we will now enter upon an account of the American whale-fishery.

CHAPTER II.

THE AMERICAN WHALE-FISHERY.

      The American Whale-fishery began as early as 1614. According to Captain John Smith, the enterprise was prosecuted by the colonists along the New England coast prior to that date, and it was among the first pursuits of the colonial inhabitants of New York and Delaware.^* The right of whale-fishing "was guaranteed by the Royal Charter of 1629 to the proprietors of Massachusetts, as being within their waters."^† Yet, according to Cheever, "the first person that is recorded to have killed a whale, among the people of New England, was one William Hamilton, somewhere between 1660 and 1670;"^‡ and as early as 1700 they began to fit out vessels from Cape Cod and Nantucket, to "whale out" in the deep sea for sperm whales. These treasures of the ocean were of great value to the early settlers, both commercially and in a domestic point of view. One John Higginson, of Cape Cod, writes: "We have a considerable quantity of whale-oil and bone for exportation." Even in those primitive times, among the few inhabitants of the coast who were engaged in the exciting adventure, it was not without its strifes, for, in 1692, Mr. Higginson, one of the spiritual advisers of those days, and Timothy Lindall, wrote to Nathaniel Thomas:^¶

      "Sir, we have been jointly concerned in seuerall whale voyages at Cape Cod, and have sustained greate wrong and injury by the unjust dealing of the inhabitants of those parts, especially in two instances; y^e first was when Woodbury and company, in our boates, in the winter of 1690, killed a large whale in Cape Cod harbour. She sank, and after rose, went to sea with a harpoon, warp, etc., of ours, which have been found in the hands of Nicholas Eldridge. The second case is this: Last winter, 1691, William Edds and company, in one of our boates, struck a whale, which came ashore dead, and by y^e evidence of the people of Cape Cod was the very whale they killed. The whale was taken away by Thomas Smith, of Eastham, and unjustly detained."

      These remarks show that shore-whaling was pursued at the Cape previous to 1690. About 1748, the whales, having been driven from the contiguous shores, were pursued farther seaward in sloops and schooners of fifty tons, each of which had a company of thirteen men, and lowered two boats in the chase. In 1765, the whale-fishery from Boston and adjacent ports amounted to one hundred small vessels,^* which cruised as far to the northward and eastward as the Straits of Belle Isle, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and to the Western Islands. But at the island of Nantucket, or among the Nantucket men, originated the grand whaling enterprise which has reached every accessible point around the world,^† The colonists who had come hither to settle were, like all other New Englanders of their time, made up of those characteristic spirits, who believed in God, and maintained the right of worshiping Him according to the dictates of their own convictions. Moreover, they were inured to frugal habits, but were alive to industry and adventure. Their first whaling from the island was in boats from the shores, which occurred as early as 1690.^† A tall spar was erected, upon which the whalemen in turn ascended to watch for whales. As soon as the spout of the animal was seen in the distance, the signal was given, when immediately the boats were manned, launched through the surf, and with sturdy stroke they plied their rudely fashioned oars, and away flew the primitive whaling squadron, which was soon invisible from the island hamlet. The capture being made, the prize was towed to the beach and stripped of its blubber, which was transported in carts to the try-houses, where the oil was extracted and put into casks ready for market. The shore-whaling continued for over fifty years, but eventually it was abandoned, for the same reason that the Spitzbergen and Smeerenberg fisheries were – the scarcity of whales near

      the coast. As early as 1712 or 1713, sloops of thirty-eight to fifty tons were fitted out from Nantucket, for voyages east to Newfoundland and south to the Gulf Stream. They had two boats each, and were manned with a crew of twelve or thirteen men, half of the number being natives.^* In some instances the whole company, except the captain, were Indians; and the "Nattick" language was, in a great measure, adopted on board.^† With these vessels, thus manned, and with the addition of an occasional representative of the African race, the fishery was successfully pursued up to 1746,^‡ when larger ones, schooners and brigs, from one hundred to one hundred and thirty tons, were employed. These more capacious whaling craft stretched across the Atlantic, in their voyages, to the coast of Africa, traversed the Banks of Newfoundland, and contended with the ice of Baffin's and Hudson's bays, in search of their mammoth prey, and in open seasons reached the latitude of 81°.

      According to Ricketson's History of New Bedford, the founder of that city, Joseph Russell, Esq., was the first to engage in the whale-fishery at that point, which dates back to 1755. In 1765, he, with others, employed in the enterprise the sloops Nancy, Polly, Greyhound, and Hannah, each of which was about fifty tons burden. Their cruises were extended during the milder months of the year as far south as the "Capes of Virginia." In these primitive voyages, the oil was not extracted from the blubber until the vessel's return, when the hoy-like craft was hauled broadside upon the shore, and an ox-cart was the means of transporting

      the reeking fat from the vessel to the "try-houses." This was the custom with all the whalers of those times.^*

      About 1770, other vessels of larger tonnage were added to the whaling squadron,† which extended their voyages, like the Nantucket-men, across the Atlantic. Among them were the New Bedford brigs Patience and No Duty on Tea. In September, 1791, the ship Rebecca, owned by those veteran merchants, Joseph Russell & Sons and Cornelius Howland, was among the first, if not the first, of American whalers which doubled Cape Horn and obtained a full cargo in the Pacific. The chronicler states: "Although the Rebecca was only one hundred and seventy-five tons, she was considered a very large vessel, and was visited as an object of wonder." Thus began the commercial enterprise at New Bedford – or, as the town was first named, Bedford – which has since become, and still is, the whaling metropolis of the world. Between the years 1771 and 1775, Massachusetts alone employed annually, in the northern whale-fishery, one hundred and eighty-three vessels, tonnaging thirteen thousand eight hundred and twenty tons; and one hundred and twenty- one vessels, with an aggregate burden of fourteen thousand and twenty tons, were engaged in the southern fishery,‡ and many places along the sea- board of New England, as well as towns

farther north and south, became whaling-ports. The subjoined table gives the number of American vessels annually engaged in the enterprise, with the amount and value of oil taken each year from 1762 to 1770, inclusive:

      About 1774,^† the fleet was augmented by still larger vessels,‡ some of which crossed the equator, and obtained full cargoes upon that noted ground called the "Brazil Banks," while others cruised around Cape Verde Islands or the West Indies,

in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, or upon the coast of the Spanish Main. Soon after, they extended their voyages to the South Atlantic, around the Falkland Islands, and to the coast of Patagonia, where Fur Seal skins and Sea Elephant oil were sometimes obtained. In such instances these whaling and sealing expeditions were called "mixed voyages." "Between the years 1770 and 1775," according to

      Macy's History of Nantucket, "the whaling business increased to an extent hitherto unparalleled. In 1770 there were a little more than one hundred vessels engaged, and in 1775 the number exceeded one hundred and fifty, some of them large brigs." The following table briefly exhibits the state of the fishery from 1771 to 1775 (showing the annual average), which at that period was prosecuted chiefly from Massachusetts, although Sag Harbor had three sloops cruising for whales in high northern latitudes as early as 1760: ^*

      The first voyage made across the equinoctial line into the South Atlantic was by the brig Amazon, of Nantucket, under the command of Uriah Bunker, who returned with a "full ship" April 19th, 1775.^†

      The breaking-out of the Revolutionary War paralyzed the whaling commerce, which nearly proved ruinous to all those who were embarked in it. Nantuck that time, had one hundred and fifty vessels. But on the return of peace it was resumed, and but few years elapsed before it was again pursued with great vigor. The first whale-ship that ventured into the Pacific was sent by the Nantucket colony of whaling-men from England, in 1787,^* and the first officer of the vessel, Archelus Hammond, struck the first Sperm Whale known to have been captured in that ocean.

      In the year 1789, a gentleman from Cape Cod, who had returned from service in the East India Company, having seen Sperm Whales near Madagascar, communicated the fact to some of the Nantucket whalemen, who, profiting by the knowledge, in due time dispatched ships to that coast, which proved to be a rich whaling-ground. From 1787 to 1789, inclusive, the American Wbale-fishery was prosecuted from the ports, and to the extent set forth in the following statement:^†

      In 1791^‡ six whale-ships were fitted out at Nantucket for the Pacific – the first that ever sailed from the United States for those distant grounds. Their

      names were the Beaver, Washington, Hector, Warren, Rebecca, and Favorite, and the names of their captains were those characteristic ones among the settlera of the islands, as follows: Worth, Bunker, Brock, Barnard, Meader, and Folger. These ships were only two hundred and fifty tons burden, dull sailers, having no copper on their bottoms, and but scantily fitted with whaling appliances or provisions. The scene of their first exploits was upon the coast of Chile. These pioneer voyages, through the persistent daring of the hardy men who led them, were eminently successful, which induced the people of the neighboring settlements of other New England ports to extend their whaling commerce, and but few years passed before a numerous fleet were plying over those rough waters. Gradually, however, they extended their cruises toward the more distant but smiling regions of the tropics. As early as 1800,^* American whalers were plowing the sparkling waters along the coast of Peru, and their keels cut the equatorial line, north and south, in the Pacific. A favorite cruising-ground was from the Spanish Main, westward, around the Galapagos Islands. There a rich harvest rewarded them, where they labored in a genial climate, with an almost uninterrupted succession of fine breezes and pleasant weather. At certain seasons, north of the equator, the north-east trades blew fresh, and at the south they would frequently increase to a brisk gale; but these periodical breezes, compared with the heavy gales of the Atlantic and the tedious weather about Cape Horn, served only to enliven them into renewed activity under the heated rays of a tropical sun, when in pursuit of the vast herds of Cachalots which were met with, bounding over or through the crested waves. During these long voyages, it became unavoidably necessary to occasionally go into port, in order to "recruit ship." When arrived at these places of supply, good store of fresh meat, water, and vegetables was laid in, and the ship's company were allowed to pass, in turn, a few days of liberty on shore. In due time those ports along the coast of Chile and Peru, which were suited to the requirements of the adventurers, became famous places of resort for American whale-ships. The principal ones were

Talcahuano and Valparaiso, in Chile, and Payta, Callao, and Tumbez, in Peru At these places usually could be obtained any needed recruits, and the picturesque scenery, blended with those sunny climes, together with the charms of the beautiful women, made their periodical visits to the coast peculiarly attractive, and wrought an entire temporary change from the life on "blue water." The abrupt and lofty group of islands – the Galapagos – which extend into both latitudes from the equator, and the little island of Cocos, situated in the rainy region on the border of Panama Bay, were frequently visited, and became more familiar to the whalemen, in many instances, than their Atlantic homes. Every ragged mountain and verdant valley of the former were traversed in hunting the galapago, or "elephant terrapin," which furnished them with ample supply of the most delicious meat, and the latter was resorted to for fresh water, which was dipped from cascades flowing out of their natural reservoir beyond the wooded bluffs. And upon the rocks about the beach of Chatham Bay, rudely chiseled, are the records of those pioneer whale-fishers, together with the dates of the visits of transient vessels, from the pigmy shallops of Drake's time to the magnificent national ships of the present century. The War of 1812 caused another cessation in American whaling, yet it was revived simultaneously with the declaration of peace; and, as early as 1815, ships were in pursuit of the balaenas amid the icy regions of the north and south, and the Cachalots in both hemispheres. Not unfrequently American whalemen were the discoverers and pioneers to distant islands and coasts when engaged in their legitimate pursuits; and they were often the first to display our national flag in commercial marts remote from their home havens. In this connection we will mention the fact that, in 1792,^* at the peak of the ship Washington, of Nantucket, under the command of George Bunker, was hoisted the first American ensign ever spread to the breeze in the port of Callao. Characteristic of the life they led, the love of adventure tempted the whalers to turn their prows even from the sunny shores of Peru, and, with flowing sheets, they coursed over the Pacific until, in latitude 5° to 10° south, and longitude 105° to 125° west, the objects of pursuit were found in countless numbers, whose huge forms blackened the waves, and whose spoutings clouded the air as far as the eye could discern. This discovery was made by Captain George W. Gardner, in the ship Globe, of Nantucket, in 1818.^† The captain named it the "Off-shore Ground," and ere long this circumscribed spot in the ocean was whit ned by the sails of fifty ships.

      Captain Winship, of Brighton, Massachusetts, reported to his friends at Nantucket, that on a voyage from China to the Sandwich Islands, he had seen large

      numbers of Sperm Whales on the coast of Japan. Upon this information, in 1820, ships were dispatched to what is now known as the Japan Ground. The two first to arrive were the Nantucket ship Maro, Captain Joseph Allen, and the English ship Enderby, which was commanded by Frederick Coffin, of Nantucket. Here they were successful in soon filling their vessels with sperm oil, and two years after there were more than thirty ships upon that coast. About this period nearly the whole coast of western North America, as far as the land known as New Albion, was traversed by the sperm-whalemen, and it is said that more than a hundred ships were literally spanning the North Pacific in their eager search between the two continents for the coveted Cachalots. In 1828, four ships were sent from Nantucket to cruise for Sperm Whales off the coast of Zanzibar, around the Chychile Islands, and about the mouth of the Red Sea; and one of the number, with the very appropriate name of Columbus, through the skill and energy of the captain, sailed up the Red Sea in quest of the objects of pursuit.

      But while the explorations and the chase for both the Cachalot and the Right Whale were being vigorously prosecuted in the North and South Atlantic, and through the temperate and torrid zones, not only by American whalemen, but by vessels wearing the flags of the principal maritime nations of Europe, those remote and forbidding latitudes of the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific had received due attention. As far back as 1803, ships were cruising around Kurguelen Land for Right Whales, in the season, and sometimes a portion of their crews were engaged in sealing along the surf-beaten shores of Desolation and the Crozet islands, making up "mixed" but profitable voyages. Subsequently the coasts of New Zealand and New Holland (now Australia), became prolific whaling-grounds. Yet, with all the vast extent of both sea and ocean known to the whalemen for prosecuting their vocation, there were adventurous spirits among them who were ever in deep study and eager for a new field of pursuit, and plying their vessels to the far north in the Pacific, an unparalleled success awaited them. In the year 1835,^* the American ship Ganges took the first Right Whale on the Kodiak Ground. This was the beginning of the great whaling of the North-western Coast; and in 1839 the fleet of the United States engaged in whaling numbered five hundred and fifty-seven vessels, which were distributed among the Northern Atlantic ports in the proportions set forth in the subjoined table. In 1842 the number was six hundred and fifty-two. At this time the foreign whaling-fleet amounted to two hundred and thirty sail, and the combined fleet of the world, engaged in the enterprise, numbered eight hundred and eighty-two ships, barks, brigs, and schooners.