52 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEJIY OF 



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. 



VI. THE FINBACK. 



Bal^noptera velifera Cope. 



Another species of the Whale tribe is known as the Finback. 



One picked up by Capt. Poole, of the bark " Sarah Warren," of San Fran- 

 cisco, aflFords us the foUowino^ memoranda: Length sixty-five feet. Thick- 

 ness 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. 



Its side fins and flukes are in like proportion to the body as in the Califor- 

 nia Gray. Its throat and breast are marked with deep creases or folds, like 

 the Humpback. Color of back and sides black or blackish-brown ; belly a 

 milky white. Its back fin is placed nearer to the caudal than the hnmp on 

 the Humpback, and in shape approaches to a right-angled triangle, but 

 rounded on the forward edge, curved on the opposite one, and the longest 

 side joins the back in some individuals ; in others the anterior edge is the 

 longest. 



The habits of the Finback in several points are peculiar. When it respires 

 the breath passing through its spoutholes produces a sharp sound that is 

 quite distinguishable from that of other whales of the same genus. It fre- 

 quently 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 

 gide, at otie moment upon the surface, belching forth its quick ringing spout, 

 and the next instant submerged deep beneath the waves. 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, mak- 

 ing a regular course and several uniform blows. Occasionally they congre- 

 gate 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 difli- 

 cult to capture. The results of several attempts to catch them were as fol- 

 lows: One was shot from the ship with a bomb-gun, which did its work so 

 effectually that, although the boat was in readiness for instant lowering, be- 

 fore it got within darting distance the animal, in its dying contortions, ran 

 afoul 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 got quite a 

 good look at 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 of belly and the creases on throat 

 and breast. The under side of 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 be- 

 neath." Frequently we have "lowered" for single ones that were placing 

 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 un- 

 der the following circumstances : A " pod " of whales were seen in the offing, 

 and the whalemen from their station on shore immediately embarked in their 



[April, 



