PAPERS 



OF THE 



ROYAL SOCIETY OF TASMANIA 



1919 



STUDIES OF TASMAXIAN CETACEA. 



Tari' 1. 

 (Orra (jladiatar, I'xt lularcd cr(t<si(/eiis, U/obicepIia/iiK me/as) 



By 

 II. H. Scott, Curator of the Victoria Museum, Launces- 

 ton, 



and 



Clivf. E. liORD, Curator of the Tasmanian Museum, 

 Hobart. 



Plates I. -IX. 



(Received 17th Maixh, 1919. Read llth April. 1919.) 



PRELIMINARY. 



As the present paper is Iho outcome, in the main, of 

 presentations made to scientific societies by one who was 

 intimately connected, with the Tasmanian whaling indus- 

 try, it has been thought fit to commence with a brief his- 

 torical review of this interesting period. Also, in view of 

 the fact that this ])aper is intended to sei^ve as an intro- 

 duction to further studies of the i'lfarcd which we hope to 

 mutuallv conduct in the future as opportunities present 

 themselves. The chief references in the accounts of the 

 early voyages relate to the pursuit of the "black whale 

 (an unfortunate vernacular name at best). As far as Tas- 

 mania is concerned the industry began to assume com- 

 mercial importance about the year 1818, and at that time 

 it was no uncommon sight to see whale hunts in the Der- 

 went. As the industiy increased the whales were driven 

 further afield, but they still continued to visit the coast at 

 stated intervals. The season usually lasted from May, or 

 June, until November, and as the men engaged in this 

 branch cf the industry formed small stations at the coastal 

 bays and there awaited the whales, this method of securing 

 the cetaceans became known as "bay whaling. ' 



There is one instance recorded of a female whale as- 

 cending the River Derwent as far as New Norfolk, 24 miles 

 above Hobart, and being killed there •!'. 



a) Bischoff. Sketch History of V.D.L. (1832). p. 27. 



