2 4 2 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



when between 37 and 4-1 m. long, that is, between 12 and 13 ft., the mean length being 3-92 m. 



(12 ft. 10 in.). 



The largest whale among 417 males taken at Fayal between 9 July 1949 and 1954 was 18-00 m. 

 (59 ft. 1 in.) in length and was measured by Senhor Reis on 8 November 1953. Although this whale 

 was still capable of further growth, the anterior thoracic vertebrae being still unfused, it must have 



Table 2. Length frequencies of the catch at Horta from 9 July 1949* to 1954 



Feet 



Males 



Females 



Feet 



Males 



Females 



202 



* See note on measurements on p. 241. 



50 





40 



30- 



20- 



10- 



MALES 

 FEMALES 



6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 



Lenqrhs in half-metres 

 Fig. 2. Length frequencies of the catch at Horta, Fayal from 9 July 1949 to 1954. 



been approaching the maximum size attainable by sperm whales. The International Whaling Statistics 

 (xi-xxxiii) publish 68,765 measurements of male sperm whales killed between 1932 and 1953, 

 and only eighty-four or 0-122% exceed 59 ft. Drouet mentions another 59-ft. sperm whale taken 

 on the Azores ground, and adds that in the sperm whale fishery the Azores were noted for large 

 whales (1861). 



Of 202 females taken at Fayal between 9 July 1949 and 1954 the largest was 12-30 m. (40 ft. 4 in.) 

 in length and was measured by Senhor Reis on 1 1 April 1953. I do not at present know any reliable 



