METHODS OF WORK AT WHALING STATIONS 267 



4. Ventral Grooves. Here again the numbers of grooves vary to some extent. They 

 were counted in a number of cases, sufficient to show that the number depends only 

 on individual variation. There is also some variation in the small grooves in the 

 neighbourhood of the genital aperture in females. 



5. Palate and Tongue. These show very little variation, and comparatively few notes 

 were made under this heading. 



As soon as the flensing process is commenced measurements can be made of the 

 thickness of the blubber. The flensers make certain long cuts running longitudinally 

 down the body of the whale in dorsal, lateral, and ventral positions, and piercing just 

 to the depth of the blubber. A measurement was made regularly at two points on these 

 cuts, the first at the apex of a V-shaped deflection of the dorsal cut near the shoulder, 

 and the second at a point on the lateral cut opposite the dorsal fin. It is the latter 

 rather than the former measurement which has been used in estimating the condition 

 of the whales at dift'erent seasons. 



Any external parasites are counted except when present in large numbers, and a 

 note is made as to their position. Remarks are made also as to the number of healed 

 or open scars which commonly occur on the flanks, and the appearance of a film of 

 diatoms on the skin is noted. 



Before flensing, observations are made on the external genitalia. In the case of 

 males it has usually been noted whether the penis is extended or retracted, though 

 this observation does not now appear to have much value. The penis is sometimes 

 measured, but this should not be done unless one is certain that it is fully extruded. 

 In the case of females records are made as to whether the genital aperture is open or 

 closed and whether the vagina is congested or not. The mammary glands are best 

 studied after the removal of the blubber, but if lactation is in progress it can usually 

 (though not always) be observed as soon as the whale is out of the water. On one or 

 two occasions milk has been found spouting out of the nipples as the whale was drawn 

 up, and it was possible to collect a pure sample of it. By means of an incision into the 

 gland after flensing, if the whale is fresh one can see at a glance whether lactation is 

 taking place or not, or whether the whale is immature. In many cases the depth of the 

 gland has been measured, and samples were occasionally preserved for histological 

 examination. 



At a later stage, when the longitudinal cut has been made down the abdominal 

 muscles, one can draw out the internal genitalia by opening the peritoneum at the 

 posterior end of the abdominal cavity. In males the testes are to be found against the 

 coils of intestine just behind the bladder, and they can easily be pulled out and cut 

 away. In females the uterus is found in the same way, but as it is often very large 

 some trouble may be experienced in pulling it completely out, and it may be difficult 

 to locate the ovaries which are often concealed in fold upon fold of the blanket-like 

 uterine mesentery. 



In the case of males the length, breadth and depth of the testis are measured, and 

 if it is sufficiently fresh a small piece is preserved for histological examination. In the 

 case of aduh females (in immature females there is little object in systematically 



