182 NEWFOUNDLAND 



species of whales. " Sometimes the animal," says Scammon 

 (p. 42), "blows only once, at another time six, eight or ten, 

 and from that up to fifteen or twenty times," This is, I 

 think, correct. A Humpback which I observed on the 

 Greenbank, Newfoundland, spouted eight, ten, and twelve 

 times. The periods of absence under water during the big 

 dives average about five minutes. Baer, Lilljeborg, Jouan, 

 and Racovitza all bear testimony to the warm and foetid 

 breath of this whale. In fact all the large whales are foul 

 in this respect, the Humpback particularly so." ^ 



The Norwegians considered this a somewhat difficult 

 animal to kill and by far the most dangerous whale to 

 lance, not even excepting the Sperm. Unless mortally 

 struck it rushes off at great speed and dashes about in an 

 irresponsible manner, at one time forming great circles, at 

 another heading straight for the ship. 



Humpbacks sometimes give trouble when struck too high 

 in the body or only slightly wounded, and several serious 

 accidents have occurred both to steamers and to the men 

 in the small "prams" when trying to lance the wounded 

 whale. OwinCT to its sudden rushes and free use of tail 

 and pectorals the Humpback is more feared by the Norwegian 

 whalemen than any other species. The following authentic 

 instances have been given to me by Norwegian captains : — 



In May 1903 the whaling steamer Minerva., under Captain 

 Johan Petersen, hunting from the station in Isafjord, made 

 up to and struck a bull Humpback. The beast was wild, so 

 they fired two harpoons into it, both of which were well 

 placed. In the dim light the captain and two men went 

 off in the " pram " to lance the wounded whale, when the 

 latter suddenly smashed its tail downwards, breaking the 

 ' " The Mammals of Great Britain and Ireland," vol. iii. 



