246 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 
It will be observed from the table that the largest European specimen is the 
Iceland one cited by Guldberg, which was 51’ 8” long in a straight line. Guldberg’s 
statement regarding it is as follows: “Captain Berg told me that the largest speci- 
men captured by him measured 50 feet [Rheinland 7] long (in a straight line) and 
46 feet in maximum girth” (49, 15).' 
The next largest was that recorded by Segnette as stranded on the island of 
Ré, France, in 1680. 
It was a female and its length was 50 ft. 7 in. 
Fischer 
asserts that this individual was young (44, 16), but there is no evidence that this was 
the case. 
the whale of the Basques. 
a length of 36 cubits (coudées), or as Fischer has reckoned it, 23.4 m., or 76 ft. 9 in. 
There is no probability that the Nordcaper ever reached such dimensions. 
The American specimens hitherto recorded present the following lengths: 
He was influenced by the measurements given by Rondelet and Paré for 
According to these early zoélogists, this whale reached 
— caw | 
Locality. Date. Sex. | Total Length. Age. Museum. Authority. 
Cape Lookout, N. C. Mch. 20, 1894; 2 | 53 0" Arutz i R.siciersheteevceac eee Brimley 
- 50' 0” + rt § State Museum, |p. 
Beaufort Nee ere mea | [Skeleton as mounted, 44 9’ | 1 Raleigh, N.C. ENE 
a | j noe ij ereld Col Muse | Maaq 
boyish, Moucac| bobtas5acoad A Skeletont44 9) 9 7 li Gateasveus i 1e Chicaps us Elliot 
Egg Harbor, N. J..... Spring, 1882 9° 48' o” ROOMS | Not preserved | Ilolder 
Cape Lookout, N.C...| Feb. 15, 1898 | 40’ o” est. Adol. or ad Wis. Acad. Sci. | Brimley 
: Bet ice . Mus. = a 
Long Island, N. Y.... 1888 ‘| Skeleton 45/ 3" 8 Adol. | | U emia: 11 By Winer 
Cape Cod, Mass......-. April, 1895 oy || wit) t 2) Wee SillanrmAgaani | moonh sothooseaas Blake 
Charleston; 'S: (C:-.-....- Jan., 1880} 64 40' 4" Adol. Charleston Col. |Manigault 
= ram Am. Mus. Nat. 
Long Island, N. Y..... coe + Skeletonyg5iOm | -reStee ill wamiete crete | Hist., New Youk Holder 
: : : hen . Acad. Nat. Sci., < 
Opposite Philadelphia ‘. 1862 Skeleton 37’ 0” est. jr. | ° ‘Philadelphia Cope 
Cape Lookout, N. C...| Mch. 20, 1894 2010" ue Not preserved | Brimley 
A comparison of the foregoing measurements of total length with those pre- 
viously given for the European specimens shows that there is no considerable 
difference in size in individuals from the two sides of the Atlantic. 
The largest American specimen, as above indicated, was 53 ft. long. 
largest European specimen (Iceland) was 51 ft. 8 in. 
show a parallel gradation in size. 
The 
The younger specimens 
It may be stated, therefore, that European and 
American specimens cannot be differentiated by size. 
EXTERNAL PROPORTIONS. 
The exterior measurements recorded by those who have had an opportunity to 
examine the Atlantic Right whale in a fresh condition are so meagre and so little 
conformable that they give but scant assistance in determining the questions at 
‘ Guldberg’s own measurements appear to be in Rheinland feet (12 in. Rheinl. = 12.357 Eng- 
lish), but he cited one measurement from Capt. Berg in English feet, which may be the kind 
intended here, in which case the Ré Island specimen would be the longest one. 
* See Holder (36, 112, 120). 
* The length of the skeleton as mounted is probably too great, on account of the exaggeration 
of the caudal intervertebral spaces. 
“Type of Balena cisarctica Cope. 
