NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 51 



habit they are found on different coasts in all latitudes between the freezing 

 points, from the young one but a few days old to those of extreme maturity. 

 They are captured with the common hand harpoon and lance, adding the 

 use of the bomb-gun, and as they are very liable to sink when dead, every 

 exertion is made to get the harpoons in before the gun is discharged. The 

 best points for Humpback whaling on the coast have been Magdalena, Balle- 

 nas, and Monterey Bays. 



V. THE SULPHURBOTTOM. 



SlBBALDIDS SULFURBDS Cope. 



The largest whale found upon the coast, if not the largest known, is the 

 Sulphurbottom. 



Never having had an opportunity of obtaining an accurate measurement of 

 its proportions, I can only state them approximately. 



Length seventy to ninety feet ; the body is comparatively more slender than 

 the California Gray; the pectorals and caudal fin may be regarded as being 

 in like proportion to the body as those of the Finback and the " Gray." The 

 color is somewhat lighter than in the former on its back and sides, but under- 

 neath it is of a yellowish cast, or sulphur color: hence the name Sulphur- 

 bottom is supposed to have been given. The dorsal fin is much smaller than 

 that of the Finback, and is a little nearer the flukes, but the head, throat and 

 bone in shape is similar to that species. 



A Sulphurbottom is found in the Atlantic as well as in the Pacific. The 

 Pacific species occurs at all seasons on the coasts of the Californias. During 

 the months from May to September they are often found in large numbers 

 close in with the shore, at times playing' about ships at anchor in the open 

 roadsteads, near islands or capes, but as a general rule they do not approach 

 vessels with the degree of boldness that the Finback does. 



The Sulphurbottom is considered the swiftest whale afloat, and for this 

 reason is but seldom pursued and still more rarely taken. Capt. Thomas, of 

 the bark Lagrange, in 1857, off St. Bartolme Bay, caught one by first shooting 

 a bomb-lance into a vital part; and, although the whale ran a long distance 

 before "turning up," they were enabled to keep trace of it among the large 

 number around by its spouting blood. When the animal was nearly exhausted, 

 the boats approached near enough to get fast, which was done and the capture 

 completed. This one yielded about ninety barrels of oil, and measured eighty- 

 five feet in length. The schooner "Page," of San Francisco, succeeded in 

 taking several near Ascension Island, the vessel laying at anchor under the 

 lee of it, the capture being made with the bomb-gun and lance. Notwithstand- 

 ing that a large proportion of these whales sank as soon as dead, they were 

 enabled to save them, the water being of moderate depth, in consequence of 

 which the whales rose to the surface before decomposition was far advanced. 

 The size and yield of those taken by the " Page " compared favorably with the 

 one taken by the "Lagrange." 



Several days' trial was made in the brig " Boston," in 1858, off Cenos Island, 

 to capture these animals. It was the month of July, and the sea, as far as the 

 eye could discern, was marked with their huge forms and towering spouts. 

 Ten were bombed by the best shooters, who affirmed that they chose their 

 '• chance," but as soon as the gun was discharged the whale would disappear, 

 and that was the last trace seen of it, except a patch of foam, sometimes 

 mixed with blood. On the last day of pursuit, toward the evening, another 

 vessel appeared in the offing and approached within a mile or less, when the 

 last trial bomb was fired and the men in the boats looked eagerly to the rising 

 of the wounded whale, bnt in vain. A signal was made from the approach- 

 ing ship that they had seen it, as it " broke water" close to the vessel, and it 

 soon rolled over and sank. The swiftness of this animal, under water, as 

 demonstrated at this time, appeared to make it impracticable to pursue them. 



1869.] 



