30 A HISTORY OF THE WHALE FISHERIES 



to the northward, swimming close inshore. The 

 California Grey Whale is a true coastal species. 



In the summer it frequents Behring Sea and 

 Okhotsk Sea. In autumn it is again noticed, from 

 October to November, off the coast of Oregon. It 

 does not appear to migrate below 20 N. Latitude. 

 This whale is also known to the Japanese under the 

 name " Kokujira." It was also hunted by the 

 Indians, on its migration, in the Straits of Fuca 

 (Vancouver), and near Charlotte Island. 



The Nordcaper and California Grey Whale are 

 essentially plankton feeders. 



According to Andrews 1 the annual migration of 

 the California Grey Whale occurs as regularly as 

 the seasons. On both sides of the Pacific the 

 migrations take place almost at the same time. 

 Along the Korean coast near the end of November 

 single pregnant females appear, travelling steadily 

 southwards; a little later both males and females 

 are seen, finally males bring up the rear, all having 

 passed by 25th January. 



During the latter part of the nineteenth century 

 the hunting of the whale by small steamers specially 

 built to carry a harpoon gun, has led to an enor- 

 mous destruction of Finner Whales or Rorquals 

 (Balcenop tended). Many thousands of these 

 whales have been killed by the harpoon gun (see 

 p. 272). 



Of the Balsenopteridae the Humpback (Megaptera 

 hoops) is one of the most important. It was known 



1 " Whale hunting with gun and Camera," New York, 1916. 



