WHALE HUNTING WITH GUN AND CAMERA 



ing their sojourn in the north, but it is probable that 

 whales which have been born near either the Korea 

 or California coasts will find mates among the 

 members of their own herd during the southern 

 migration, and return annually to their birthplace. 

 It is quite conceivable that the case of the gray 

 whale may be like that of the fur seal, where it has 

 been shown conclusively that members of the Ameri- 

 can and Japanese herds do not mingle in the north 

 although separated by comparatively few miles of 

 water. 



Because of its regular migrations, the period of 

 gestation of this species can be more nearly deter- 

 mined than that of any other large whale, and is 

 about one year. Mating appears to take place in the 

 south during December or early January, and the 

 calf is ready for delivery at the same time the follow- 

 ing winter; probably calves are born but once in two 

 years. The length of the gray whale calf at birth is 

 between twelve and seventeen feet and undoubtedly 

 its size is much more than doubled during the first 

 year after birth. 



The devilfish is a shore-loving species and on its 

 annual migrations always prefers to cruise along close 

 to the beach. When unmolested it swims about four 

 or five miles an hour and cannot exceed nine miles 

 even when badly frightened and doing its best to get 

 away. 



At times the whales will go in so close to the shore 

 that they are actually rolling in the surf, and seem to 

 enjoy being pounded by the breakers. Scammon has 



204 



