WHALE HUNTING WITH GUN AND CAMERA 



of the spout. This is probably due to the fact that 

 the finback, since it is a larger whale, blows with 

 greater force than does the humpback. 



The white porpoise (Dclphinapterus leucas) of the 

 North, makes a most characteristic respiratory noise. 

 It is a sharp "putt" much resembling the exhaust of 

 a small gasoline engine and can be heard for a con- 

 siderable distance. In early June of 1909, while 

 hunting white porpoises in the St. Lawrence River, 

 a heavy fog dropped on us and for several hours we 

 could only wait for it to lift. All about were white 

 porpoises, probably several hundred, and the sharp 

 "putt, putt" of their spouts came from every direc- 

 tion, sounding like a squadron of gasoline launches. 



The number of times the humpbacks spout at each 

 appearance is exceedingly variable. As a general 

 rule, if the feed is far below the surface, requiring 

 a considerable period of submergence, the animals 

 will blow six or seven times before again descend- 

 ing, in order to reoxygenate thoroughly the blood. If, 

 on the contrary, the feed is near the surface, the 

 dives are short and the number of respirations after 

 each one is correspondingly small. And yet I have 

 seen individuals which were "traveling," or swimming 

 for a considerable distance under water, rise to spout 

 but once or twice and again descend. 



I have often been asked how long a whale can stay 

 below the surface. It is quite impossible to answer 

 this with a general statement since some species can 

 undoubtedly remain submerged much longer than 

 others. Twenty minutes is my greatest record for 



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