METHODS OF WORK AT WHALING STATIONS 265 



North Atlantic are compiled from the records given by Collett (191 1), Guldberg (1886), 

 Cocks (1886-90), True (1904), Hamilton (1915) and others. 



Several papers have been published by D'Arcy Thompson (191 8, 1919 and 1928) 

 which consist mainly of a general examination of the catches at Scottish whaling 

 stations during the last twenty years, with notes on the various species and their habits, 

 but these papers are not based on actual examination of the whales at the stations. 



The routine of observations which has been carried out in our own work has con- 

 sisted in making notes, in the case of each whale, on the following subjects: (i) Mea- 

 surements of bodily proportions. (2) Description of the external characters. (3) Blubber, 

 food, parasites, etc. (4) Genitalia. All measurements are recorded in metres or centi- 

 metres. 



As the whale is drawn out of the water on to the flensing platform a note is made 

 as to the date, species and sex, and the measurement series is commenced. The 

 measurements are as follows: 



1. Total length. This is measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the 

 notch of the tail flukes. It is appreciably shorter than the overall length of the whale, 

 but is the only reliable method of measuring the length. 



2. Lower jaw; projection beyond tip of snout. This measurement is very rarely taken 

 since, when the whale is lying on the flensing platform, the lower jaw is hardly ever in 

 its natural position. 



3. Tip of snout to blowhole. This is measured to the middle of the two slits of the 

 blowhole. 



4. Tip of snout to angle of gape. This is not a very reliable measurement and is often 

 omitted when there is any difliculty in locating the angle of the gape. 



5. Tip of snout to centre of eye. 



6. Tip of snout to tip of flipper. This measurement must of course be taken only 

 when the flipper lies in its natural position. 



7. Eye to ear, centres. 



8. Notch of flukes to posterior emargination of dorsal fin. This is the most reliable 

 means of fixing the position of the dorsal fin. 



9. Flukes, width at insertion. This is measured from the notch of the flukes to the 

 nearest part of the anterior margin of the flukes. 



10. Notch of flukes to anus. 



1 1 . Notch of flukes to umbilicus. This is taken to the centre of the umbilicus and can 

 be done before or after flensing. 



12. Notch of flukes to end of ventral grooves. The ventral grooves sometimes do not 

 end evenly at a definite point, in which case this measurement cannot be taken. 



13. Anus to reproductive aperture, centres. The centre of the reproductive aperture 

 in females is taken as opposite the posterior end of the clitoris, and in males at the 

 centre of the base of the penis when the latter is extruded. 



14. Dorsal fin, vertical height. 



