282 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
proportionate, while the only apparent increase is in Humpbacks, 
a tolerably sure sign of the scarcity of the two larger species. 
The numbers obtained by two Companies may be specially 
noted :—Yeretiki, the easternmost of the whaling stations, 23 
whales, against 60 in the previous year, the principal falling 
off being in Common Rorquals: and Sérver, in West Fin- 
marken, no Blue Whales, against 17 in previous season; 
Common Rorquals increased by nearly five times; the unprece- 
dented catch of 110 Rudolphi’s Rorquals in 1887, was last season 
reduced to the yet extraordinary number of 60; and Humpb.cks 
11, against 4 in 1887. 
The chief point of interest about the season’s operations was 
the killing of a Blue Whale off Vardi, early in July, which had 
one side considerably enlarged, and whose vertebral column was 
said to be distorted. There was no external mark to explain the 
circumstance. After it had been flensed the “krang” was sold 
to one of the guano factories, where, on cutting into the enlarged 
side, there ensued considerable effusion of blood and matter, 
followed by the finding, between two of the ribs, a small harpoon, 
or “bomb-lance.” The point of interest consists in the fact that 
this is undoubtedly of American manufacture, and that the whale 
must have received this unpleasant guest somewhere on the 
American side of the Atlantic, and subsequently crossed the 
ocean. The lance is 163 (English) in. long, and { in. diameter, 
and bears the inscription engraved, ‘‘E. PIERCE’S PAT. JUNE 1, 
69.”* It unscrews into three main sections and four interior 
smaller pieces. Capt. Sdrensen, in whose custody it was at the 
time of my visit to Vardé, kindly allowed me to photograph it, 
and I sent a copy to Prof. F. W. True, of the U.S. National 
Museum, Washington, asking him to be so good as to give me 
any information in his power as to place of manufacture, and in 
what whaling trade such pattern was used. Prof. True has very 
kindly taken considerable trouble about it, and has furnished me 
with the following particulars, in a letter dated May 24th:— 
‘Soon after receiving your letter, I wrote to Mr. Eben Pierce 
regarding the harpoon, and obtained from him some very interesting 
papers, copies of which I enclose. 
«The harpoon is of the kind which in America is called a bomb- 

* The figures looked like C 9, but no doubt represent the date as 
aboye. 
