64 The Rorquals 



bones and stack them after boiling for transportation 

 as manure. The living thus gained is precarious and 

 poor, subject to frightful perils and no recognition, 

 but it is not quite so bad as the similar industry carried 

 on across the Atlantic, by the tremendously handi- 

 capped citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

 However, enough of this fishery, which I have only 

 briefly alluded to, to show the one way in which the 

 Rorqual is molested by man. 



One species of Rorqual {Balaenoptera sihhaldii sul- 

 phureous) has the distinction of being the longest of all 

 species of whale. The whalemen call it the 'Sulphur 

 Bottom,' all the underpart of the body being of a bright 

 yellow. It is a harmless, amiable monster, following 

 the usual custom among giants, notable as being always 

 more docile than lesser folk. But its terrific capa- 

 bilities in the way of speed cause it to be left severely 

 alone by whale fishers, and consequently it is fairly 

 plentiful and attains its extraordinary length of 

 sometimes one hundred and fifty feet. It has another 

 peculiarity differentiating it from all other whales — the 

 height of its spout. Optical illusion and the angle of 

 vision may possibly vitiate my statement, but I feel 

 sure I have seen a Sulphur Bottom spout as high as 

 our main yard, forty feet. These are the free lances 

 of the sea. None molest them ; even from the spiteful 

 attack of the grampus or Orca they are free — no Orca 

 would dare attempt an attack upon so swift an animal. 



But the chief characteristic of these great sea- 

 mammals (the Rorquals generally) is their omnivorous- 

 ness with regard to fish. As long as they confine their 

 attentions to such wonderful deep-water nurseries of 

 edible fish for man as the Newfoundland Banks, the 

 Agulhas Banks (off the Cape of Good Hope) and the 

 Rockall Bank, fishermen only feel slightly aggrieved. 



