iQio- ScHARFF. — The Irish Whale Fishery. 233 



which is obtained from the head of the Sperm Whale, is 

 much used as an ingredient in ointments, and an ordinar}^- 

 sized animal yields as much as 12 barrels. Mr. Southern 

 ascertained that 1843 barrels of oil were turned out this year 

 by the EUy Point Company and 1500 by the Inishkea Com- 

 pany, and Captain Bruun very kindly gave me some further 

 particulars about the latter which may be of interest to the 

 readers of the Irish NaUwalist. 



The two vSteamers engaged in this fishery obtained 76 

 whales during their first year. They were mostly Common 

 Rorquals and Northern Rorquals. During the last two 

 years 124 whales were caught, but it must be remembered 

 that four steamers are now employed by the companies, 

 instead of two, as during the first year. Captain Bruun 

 stated that every particle of the carcases was used and turned 

 into oil, cattle-food, guano and bone manure. The blubber 

 yields the best oil, the bones the second best, while even the 

 intestines contain some saleable oil. The flesh is used for 

 cattle-food. After the bones and intestines have been boiled, 

 and the oil extracted, the remainder is dried and ground 

 down. Altogether the business, though not a very savoury 

 one, would seem to be rather lucrative, but Captain Bruun 

 states that the expenses are so heavy that little profit 

 remains. 



National Museum. Dublin. 



OBITUARY. 



JOHN COTTNEY. 



It is with regret that we have to record tlie early death of Mr. John 

 Cottne)', Clogher, Hillsborough, who has occasionally contributed 

 notes to this Journal, and who was a regular reader of its pages for 

 many years. Mr. Cottney was a farmer of a type that is far too rare in 

 Ireland, and from his earlj' youth he took an intens3 interest in nature 

 in general and birds in particular. He possessed a really fine and 

 valuable collection of eggs well displaj-ed in a good cabinet, which he 

 never tired of showing to interested visitors. From his daily occupation 

 Mr. Cottney was in constant touch with nature and his observations had 

 the true ring of original research. Possessed of few books, his 

 knowledge of birds, which was extensive, was mostly acquired by intimate 

 acquaintance with the wild creatures themselves. He taught himself 

 the art of taxidermy, and gained considerable proficiency in mounting 

 birds. Always ready to help others, he made many friends among the 

 naturalists of the North, by whom his early death is deplored. 



