THE BATTLENOSE PORPOISE IN CAPTIVITY 



the Cape, whence they gradually swing back to the main- 

 land. They have not, however, been followed away from 

 the beach, and their winter movements are not known with 

 certainty. 



Immediately after their capture at Hatteras, where they 

 were brought to land with a large drag-seine, the porpoises 

 were placed for twenty- four hours in a deep salt water pond 

 just back of the ocean beach. Here they had an opportu- 

 nity to recover somewhat from the fright of capture, and 

 to rest in cool water. No chances whatever were taken 

 in the matter of temperature. On the beach their natural 

 warmth of body would no doubt have been greatly increased 

 by the hot sunshine. 



The following day they were seined out of the pond and 

 placed in the shipping tanks, which were then hoisted on 

 board a schooner and at once filled with water. During the 

 voyage through the fresh waters of Pamlico Sound and 

 the Great Dismal Swamp Canal, the water in the tanks was 

 changed whenever it became warm. After reaching the New 

 York steamer at Norfolk the cooling of the porpoise tanks 

 en route was greatly simplified by the use of the steamer's 

 salt water hose. 



The shipping of porpoises alive is therefore a simple 

 matter. The adult animals readily stand transportation, 

 while the young do not. If carried in long, narrow boxes 

 large enough to accommodate them without rubbing, and 

 if kept supplied with sufficient cold water to support and 

 cover them, they can be handled easily enough. There is 

 probably no reason why a porpoise, under such conditions, 

 should not be carried in a tank many times the two days' 

 journey from Hatteras to New York, although on a jour- 

 ney by rail the changing of the water would be difficult 

 and expensive. While its temperature could be controlled 

 by the use of ice, the water carried without changing would 

 be seriously fouled, for two or three days. The question 

 of food could be disregarded for a few days without injury. 



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