42 



CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN W THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 



ice breaks up, and remain until the sea closes in the fall. They are generally found in the bays 

 or near the coast. This is supposed by some to be on account of their fear of the killers (Orca 

 delphimts), whicb are said to prey upon them. It is probable, however, that they go there to rub 

 themselves on the sand to dislodge the parasites from their skin. Kumlein, in speaking of the 

 large number of beluga which yearly enter the great Kingwah Fjord, says : 



One thing I noticed, when they go up the fjord they have a ragged appearance and dirty color, and according 

 to some whalemen are covered with parasites, but after they have been rolling and rubbing themselves on the sand 

 beaches for a few days they look much smoother, and their color is a creamy white. I found no external parasites, 

 but the internal ear cavity was nearly filled with worm-like animals nearly two inches long. They were firmly 

 attached by one end, and stood erect, having somewhat the appearance of coarse hairs. 



I noticed large numbers of beluga passing north in August. Although I did not see them 

 northward of Icy Cape, it is probable that they go as far as the ice will permit. Richardson speaks 

 of two seen by him off Cape Bathurst. They are not found in sufficient numbers north of Bering 



BELUGA AND YOUNG. 



Strait to induce the whalers to catch them for their oil, although, like other whales, they are covered 

 with a coating of blubber. Parry speaks of seeing beluga in great numbers in Lancaster Sound 

 during his first voyage. He says: 



While the calm and thick weather lasted, a number of the officers and men amused themselves with the boats 

 in endeavoring to kill some of the white whales, which were swimming about the ship in great numbers, but the 

 animals were so wary that they would scarcely suffer the boats to approach them within 'M or 40 yards without diving. 



Mr. Fisher described them to be generally from 18 to 20 feet in length, and he stated that he 

 had several times heard them emit a shrill, ringing sound, not unlike that of musical glasses when 

 badly played. This sound he further observed was most distinctly heard when they happened to 

 swim directly beneath the boat, even when they were several feet under water, and ceased altogether 

 on their coming to the surface. 



Captain Scaminon, U. S. R. M., in his excellent work on Marine Mammals, says: 



The beluga is an animal which is distinguished by its uniform light soft hue at maturity, resembles the 

 Leucorhamphus Pironii in its symmetry of upper contour. Its linear dimensions average, perhaps, 13 feet, although 

 the longest ones considerably exceed that length. Its' head is small, its prominent forehead being protected with a 

 fatty cushion, similar to that of the blackfish. Its short oval and fleshy pectorals are placed more tuau one-fifth the 

 length of the whole animal from its muzzle, giving that portion between the head proper and the fins the appear- 

 ance of a true neck. The appearance of the mouth is contracted and curved upward, both upper and lower jaws are 



