Whale Fishing on the Coast of North Carolina 75 
much more than a huge mass of fat, 
and even the bones are saturated with 
grease. In the carcass of the Beaufort 
whale I noticed thin streams of oil 
trickling down all sides and soaking 
down into the sand, and the smell of 
the oil remained on my pocket knife 
for a week. 
Whales are the largest of all animals 
that exist now or ever have existed, 
and no fossil remains, even, have been 
found of any other animals equaling 
them in size. The largest of all is said 
to be the great sulphur bottom (Szd- 
baldius sulphureus), which sometimes 
reaches a length of roo feet. 
The love of its offspring is a striking 
feature in the female whale. They are 
frequently seen on our coast attended 
by avery young sucking calf, and the 
mother manifests a very strong interest 
in its young one’s welfare. Instances 
have been seen of the mother lifting its 
wounded calf above the surface for it 
to breathe, even though she were 
wounded to death and spouting blood 
herself. She will stay close around the 
calf until she is sure of its death before 
thinking of leaving it to its fate, no 
matter how closely the boats are press- 
ing and fighting her. 
Other species found on this coast are 
the finback (Szbdaldius trectirostris), 
scrag whale (Agaphelus gtbbosus), Hump- 
back (Magaptera longimana), killer 
(Orca orca), blackfish (Globtcephalus 
melas), and, occasionally, the sperm 
whale (Physeter macrocephalus); but 
the right whale is the only one system- 
atically pursued by the local whalers, 
most of the others being harder to se- 
cure and less valuable when taken. 
FISHING. 
IZAAK WALTON. 
Who hunts, doth oft in danger ride ; 
Who hawks, lures oft both far and wide ; 
Who uses games, shall often prove 
A loser, but who falls in love 
Is fettered in fond Cupid’s snare— 
My angle breeds me no such care. 
Of recreation there is none 
So free as fishing is alone; 
All other pastimes do no less 
Than mind and body both possess, 
My hand alone my work can do, 
So I can fish and study too. 
