CHAP. XXVI. SULPHUE-BOTTOMED WHALE. 89 



Since this paper was read,* we had an opportunity of seeing 

 the form of a ship changed by mirage in a way we had not 

 previously met with. Off Basque Island, on September 10, 1836, 

 at 3 P.M., two ships to the eastward seemed each to consist of 

 three immense columns of irregularly formed sails, with a set 

 of small distinct sails at the top of each column. The images 

 seemed not only immensely raised, but also extended hori- 

 zontally (a circumstance which we had not remarked in any 

 previous case), the space between the masts being considerable, 

 and each column of sails quite distinct ; the jibs were indis- 

 tinctly erect and inverted alternately, giving some appearance 

 of a combination of images, but there was no appearance of a 

 hull. The vessels were some miles' distance from us, probably 

 hull-down. The temperature of the air was 47°, water 39^ 

 The dew point, found shortly after, when a breeze had sprung up 

 and the mirage had disappeared, was 37°.' 



Many whales were blowing in Magpie Bay. Some of 

 them appeared to be monsters sixty to seventy feet in 

 length. The immediate presence of so many whales was 

 rather exciting to the captain, who began to fight his 

 battles over again, and tell us some whale stories. The 

 west end of Anticosti is particularly distinguished for the 

 number and size of the whales which frequent it. 



Two years ago, the captain informed us that he passed 

 a schooner towing an immense sulphur-bottomed whale 

 to Mingan harbour, and that the captors were three days 

 before they succeeded in getting the gigantic creature into 

 safe quarters. When measured, it was found to be 100 

 feet long, and yielded 220 barrels of oil, but the whale- 

 men thought that they lost 120 barrels by the sharks 

 which were feeding on the carcase as the schooner was 

 towing it to Mingan harbour. 



* Proc. of the Lit. and Hist. Soc. of Quebec. 



