NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 83 



garded as correct in proportions, careful measurements having been taken. 

 All others are the best representations of proportions, and peculiar marks that 

 could be drawn from data obtained. 



I have endeavored to confine myself to the simplest and plainest language 

 in description, but in so doing have used whaling terms freely, the definition 

 of which will be fouud as indicated by reference marks. 



Fam. BALJENIDJE, 

 I. BOWHEAD WHALE. 



BalyKna mysticetus Linn. 



This whale has a geographical distribution east and west, extending from 

 Nova Zembla to the coast of Eastern Siberia. It is rarely seen further south 

 in Behriug Sea than the 55th parallel, and in the Okhotsk its southern range 

 is about the latitude of 54°. 



The northern limit of the Bowhead remains undefined. 



In tracing its history we can revert back to the Dutch and Russian fishery 

 about Spitzbergen anterior to 1615,* and as j'ears passed on it was pursued 

 westward on the Atlantic side to the icy barriers in Davis Strait, and the adja- 

 cent waters uniting with the Frozen Ocean. 



Right whales were pursued for several years on the North West coast, on 

 the coast of Kamschatka, about the Kurile Islands, and in the Japan Sea, be- 

 fore Bowheads were known to exist in that part of the Arctic Ocean adjoining 

 Behring Strait, or in the Okhotsk Sea. 



In the year 1848 Capt. Ress, in the American bark " Superior," was the first 

 whaling master to work his vessel through Behring Strait into the Arctic 

 Ocean, and then found whales innumerable, some of which yielded 200 barrels 

 of oil. 



The habits of the Bowhead are much like those of the Humpback, being ir- 

 regular in its movements, in its respirations, and in the periods of time either 

 above or below the surface of the water. When going gently along, or lying 

 quietly, it shows two portions of the body: the spoutholes, and a part of the 

 back, on account of the high conical shape of the former, and the swell of the 

 latter, which is about midway between the spoutholes and flukes. 



The Bowhead of the Arctic may be classed as follows: 1st. The largest 

 whales, of a brown color, average yield of oil 200 barrels. 2d class, smaller, 

 color black, yield of oil 100 barrels. 3d class, the smallest, color black, yield 

 of oil 75 barrels. f This last named class are generally found amongst the 

 broken ice the first of the season, and they have been known to break through 

 when it was three inches in thickness, that had formed over previously upon 

 water between the floes. They do this by coming up under and striking it 

 with the arched portion of their heads. Thence they have been sometimes 

 called "ice-breakers." In point of color, all are found with more or less 

 white on the under side, especially about the throat and fins. The Arctic 

 Bowheads may average from 40 to 65 feet in length. 



I am indebted to Capt. J. F. Poole, of the whaling bark " N. S. Perkins," for 

 the following measurements and memoranda of one taken in the Arctic, Au- 

 gust, 1867 : 



Sick female, color black on back and sides, throat white, also occasional 

 white spots on under side of body. Yield of oil, 80 barrels. (The whale was 

 judged large enough ordinarily to have j'ielded 150 barrels. 



Ft. In. 

 Length of animal 47 o 



* Subsequent datum enables me to date back to 1008. 



t We do not mean to convey the idea of sjMcies when mentioning classes, as all observ- 

 ers of our acquaintance agree that the difference in size and shade of color arises from 

 difference in age. 



1869.J 3 



