NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 39 



ever been a matter of mysterious conjecture with tlie most philosopliical 

 ■whalemen where this species go to bring forth their young, and where they 

 migrate during the winter months. That they do not go into the southern 

 hemisphere is certain, and it is equally certain that but a few stragglers even 

 reach within a number of degrees of the northern tropic in their wanderings. 

 The same mystery hangs over the breeding place or winter resort of the si>ecies 

 of Balffina known as the Bowhead. 



The Eskemo about the North Western shores of Behring's Sea speak about 

 that species coming into the bays when the " small ice comes," and they look 

 forward to that season as a time of plenty, and reap a kind of marine harvest 

 by catching numbers of them, which yield an abundant supply of food for 

 winter store ; so it seems beyond question that this species is quite at home in 

 the begincMng of the arctic winter in that region, and the immense numbers of 

 Bowheads and Right whales that would necessarily appear in the temjierate 

 latitudes i| they migrated southward would be sure to arrest the attention of 

 passing na?:igators, who frequently go far north, even in the winter season, to 

 make their passages from China and Japan. Some have asserted that they 

 probably congregate around the borders of the drifting or field ice, which joins 

 the open water of the Pacific about the Kurile, and Aleutian Islands. All 

 agree that they do not pass the tropics and reach the southern hemisphere. 

 The southern Right Whales resort to the bays in that region to bring forth 

 their young, and formerly were sought for in those inland waters, where many 

 a shij) has quickly completed her cargo by baj'-whaling in high southern lati- 

 tudes. But no bay has yet been discovered north of the equator in the Pacific 

 where the North-West Right Whales goto calve; and, as before mentioned, 

 nothing is definitely known of their winter resort. The last seen of them in 

 high latitudes by whalemen is on their return from the Arctic Ocean, when 

 they are found about St. Paul's Island, Behring's Sea, in the month of Octol^er, 

 and those found then are usually very large. In the Okhotsk Sea the Right 

 Whale is found toward the northern limits, in the early part of the season ; 

 later the ships cruise in the southern part, about the Kurile Islands. 



For much of the information about the habits of the Right Whale, and for 

 some of the measurements which have guided us in making our drawing, we 

 are indebted to Capt. Poole, commanding the Bark N. S. Perkins, of San 

 Francisco, and Capt. Baker, of Brig L. P. Foster, which sails from the same 

 port, and Cap^t. J. M. Green, long known as an experienced whaling master. 



The avei'age length of this species may be calculated at sixty feet, the two 

 sexes varj'ing but little in size ; average yield of oil 130 barrels, average thick- 

 ness of blubber ten inches, which appears quite white ; yield of bone about 

 1400 lbs. to a hundred barrels of oil. 



The Right Whale is found singly, or in pairs ; at times scattered about as far 

 as the eye can reach from the mast head. The last of the season they are 

 sometimes seen in large numbers, crowded together. These herds are called 

 " gams," and they are regarded by experienced whalemen as an indication that 

 the whales will soon leave the ground. 



The general habit of this animal is to spout seven to nine times to a " ris- 

 ing," then turning flukes (elevating them s^ or eight feet out of the water) it 

 goes down, and remains twelve to fifteen niinutes. It is remarked, however, 

 since they have been so generally pursued by whalemen, that their action in 

 this respect has somewhat changed. When "gallied" by the close approach 

 of a boat thej^ have a trick of hollowing the back, which brings the blubber 

 slack, preventing the harpoon from penetrating. Many whales have been 

 " missed" by the boatsteerer's darting at this portion of the body. Having 

 been chased every successive season for years, these animals have become 

 very wild, and difficult to get near, especially in calm weather. The manner 

 of propelling the boat at such times is by paddling, and when there is a breeze, 

 by sailing, if practicable, using the oars only when it is not possible to use 

 sails or paddles. Among Right Whalemen there is a difference of opinion 



1869.] 



