34 AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY. 



a cast of which I have placed before you, is exceedingly comriion. 



It sports in the waves from Maine to Florida. I have observed 

 them at various points, especially between Cape Cod and North 

 Carolina. They are fearless, approaching very closely in shore, 

 perhaps not further than twenty or thirty paces. They play 

 around the steamers and sailing vessels regardless of any danger. 



The specimen before you is not full grown. The species 

 attain nine, ten and even eleven feet in length. They are not 

 very rapid swimmers, but can attain considerable speed. 

 Regarding their habits we really know very little. They appear 

 to breed at all seasons of the year. It was this species and one 

 other which were known to the ancients and entered into their 

 art. They were portrayed with curious conventionalization on 

 their coins, and were endowed with many peculiar attributes 

 which certainly not even man himself possesses, much less the 

 lower animals. The species before us has been known from 

 time immemorial. Its distribution seems to be very wide. It 

 probably occurs in all salt waters of the globe. 



The fishery which is now being prosecuted at Cape Hatteras 

 has been carried on in a minor degree for many years. As long 

 as there has been a colony on the coast of North Carolina, the 

 fishermen have been in the habit of catching some porpoise dur- 

 ing the winter and converting them into oil. The apparatus 

 used for this purpose was, however, very rude, and consequently 

 the oil produced was of no great value. Last year, however, for 

 some unknown cause, it occurred to certain gentlemen in Phila- 

 delphia that this animal could be made more profitable than had 

 before appeared, and they therefore formed a company with 

 their base of operations near to Cape Hatteras, where they were 

 engaged last winter in catching porpoises. So abundant are the 

 dolphins at this point that they had no difficulty in taking 2,000 

 during the cold weather. The fishing season is not yet finished, 

 and it is probable that 1,000 more will be added to the number 

 captured. 



The method of the fishing is the same as has been in use for 

 a long time by the fishermen of Cape Hatteras. Having ex- 

 plained this at length in print, it is perhaps unnecessary to dwell 

 upon the details at this time. I may say, however, that it con_ 



