CHAPTER XXIII 



HUNTING WHITE WHALES IN THE 

 ST. LAWRENCE RIVER 



THE porpoises and dolphins which form the 

 family Delphinidae are in all essential respects 

 toothed whales. 1 



The name "porpoise" is usually applied to the 

 round-headed members of the family, while "dolphin" 

 distinguishes those which have pointed snouts or 

 beaks. 



The fish (Coryphcuna), properly called dolphin, 

 which passes through brilliant changes of color when 

 dying, is often confused with the cetacean because of 

 its name, although, of course, they are not related in 

 the remotest degree. Because of this confusion I sel- 

 dom use the name dolphin but speak of all members 

 of the group as porpoises. 



There are so many species of porpoises that it 

 would not be possible in a book of this character to 

 describe them all; therefore, as with the whales, only 

 those of commercial importance will be considered. 

 Most of the members of this family are small, only 

 the killer whale (see Chapter XVIII) and the black- 

 fish exceeding twenty feet in length. 



1 A glance at the classification in the Appendix will explain 

 their relationship to other cetaceans. 



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