TIIK WHALE FISHKUY. 59 



"Last week our Portuguese fishermen killed a large female whale of the California gray 

 species (Rhackianectes ylni/cits), about GO feet in length, being some 22 feet larger than has ever 

 been killed here before the average of females killed being about 42 feet. After cutting off the 

 blubber they found inside a nearly full-grown male calf, which measured 18 feet from the end of its 

 nose to the tip of its tail, or fluke, as the whalers call it; the circumference of the body at its 

 center 9 feet ; the head about 4 feet in length; pectoral tins 3 feet; breadth of tail 3| feet, and it 

 had two ridges on the lower jaw. When' brought on shore it still had 3 feet of the umbilical cord 

 attached to it. The whalebone on its upper jaw was soft and white; the tongue large and soft; 

 the eyes nearly full size, about as large as a cow's, and the skin was of a dark brown, mottled 

 white. It had no dorsal fin. The females, when with young, generally keep off shore when on 

 their way down south, to bring them forth in the warm waters of the bays of Lower California, 

 where they remain all winter and go north in the spring. The females, when with calf, are danger- 

 ous, as they often attack the boats of the whalers. The writer once saw a boat cut completely in 

 two by the flukes of one of these whales, and it looked as if it had been chopped in two by a dull 

 ax ; and several of the men were wounded. The term of gestation is about one year. Formerly 

 these marine monsters were so numerous in Monterey Bay that whalers would fill up lying at 

 anchor. Oftentimes they would be seen playing in the surf and rolling the barnacles out of their 

 sides and backs on the sand beach an odd way of scratching themselves." 



SAN SIMEON WHALING COMPANY. The men in this company are all Portuguese but one, 

 and most of them are from the Azores Islands. Captain Clark (nee Machado) is from the Azores, 

 whence he shipped as a seaman to the United States. He began whale-fishing at Monterey, where 

 an American, Captain Davenport, the first California shore- whale fisher, was engaged before him. 

 In 1858 he began whaling at San Diego. In 1864 he was at Portuguese Bend, and in 1805 

 started the San Simeon Camp, where he has ever since remained. 



There are twenty men in the camp at San Simeon. They are hired by Captain Clark, who 

 owns the entire outfit. The boat-pullers receive one-fiftieth of the lay (i. e., all receipts), ihe 

 boat-steerers receive one-fortieth, and the strikers one-sixteenth. 



Thirteen whales have been taken this season (up to February 21). One summer whale or 

 humpback, November 15 ; the others all gray whales. No other kinds have ever been secured by 

 Clark, and the humpback whale is not taken later than December. 



The last whale southward bound was taken January 29, and a few northward-bound whales 

 have been noticed about February IS, the first February 7. 



The following is the record of the number taken each year at San Simeon : 1865 to 1871, 20 

 to 25 each year, never less; 1872, 21 ; 1873, 22 ; 1874, 16; 1875, 12; 1876, 7; 1877, 13 ; 1878, 3; 

 1879, 14=500 barrels; 1880, 13+. 



It takes about ten or twelve whales per year to pay the expenses of the camp, especially now 

 when oil is so low. Four hundred and fifty barrels of oil have been obtained this year and shipped 

 to Charles Sealy, of San Francisco, to be sold on commission. Since 1865 the whales have been 

 growing more scarce and more shy. When they return from the South they keep out farther than 

 when they come down. The sea is often rougher, and the head winds render it difficult to follow 

 them. They rarely take more than four return whales. At San Diego only gray whales, and 

 rarely a right whale, are taken. 



The camp is provided with four whale-boats made in New Bedford, costing $200, $175, $150, 

 and $150 each. Two are in use for whaling and one for towing all the time, the other rests. There 

 are also two swivel-guns, made in England, each costing $200; two bomb-guns, made in New 

 Haven (T), costing $50; and some bomb-lances, made in Norway. The harpoons are made by G. 



