770 MIL 1). r;. lii.lik ox tuk axatomv [May 24, 



Lofliond, Slietlaml, a.v;iiliii<,' liiniself of tlie opportiniities llms 

 oti't'red, lias coUec-rt'd and pid)li.slied imich infoniiation relatin*;: to 

 the larger Cetacea cnptiued in Scottish waters since the opening 

 of these whiding stations. 



Hitherto, our knowledge of whales has been chiefly derived 

 from isolated specimens stranded from time to time in vnrious 

 localities around the coasts of civilised countries. Some of these, 

 though often in an advanced state of decay, have been examined 

 by zoologists, and a few observations have been added to the large 

 though scattered Cetacean literature. The fact that the whaling 

 industry has been confined to the wildest regions of the earth :ind 

 cairied on under the severest conditions of physical privation has 

 prevented other thiin chance observations of this nature being made. 



"J'he establishment of whaling stations near our shores should 

 give a new impetus to the study of Cetology and induce competent 

 observers to visit the stations during the whaling seasons. It 

 may be hoped that new light Avill be thrown upon the many 

 obscure problen)s in the biology of whales before these much 

 hunted animals become too scarce. 



During the spring of 1908 a whaling station was opened in the 

 west of lieland, by tlie Arranmore Whaling Company, on the 

 island of South Innishkea off the coast of Co. Mnyo ; and a 

 certain gentleman, who Avishes to remain anonymous, piompted 

 by considei'ations such as the above, came forward with a sum of 

 money for the encounigement of the study of the Irish Cetacea. 

 This fund, which was added to by others, was placed in the 

 hands of Dr. S. F. Harmer, F.R.S., Keeper of Zoology in the 

 ]iritish IVIusemn (Natural History), Avho was asked to find some- 

 one to visit the Irish station for as long a period as possible during 

 the summer of 1909 for the purpose of studying the anatomy, the 

 sj)ecific chai-acters, the geneivil biology, and other (questions of 

 scientific interest relating to the larger Cetacea. I had the good 

 fortune to be cho.sen for the Avoi-k, and accoi'dingly Avent to 

 Innishkea on the 6th of July 1909 and remained there until the 

 2()t1i of August, a j)eriod of seven Aveeks. 



This visit took p'ace about the middle of the Avlialing season, 

 which l)egins eaily in May and continues up to the end of 

 September. The capture of Avhales last year Avas very inter- 

 mittent and depended largely on the AA'eather. During the fir.st 

 ))a)t of my stay at Innishkea the Aveatlier Avas iniusually rough 

 for July and only one whale was caught in four Aveeks, Avhile in 

 tlui last fortnight T saAv neaily thirty Avhales brought to shoie. 



The huge size of the animals m;d<es any examination of them 

 Acry dirticult, cAen at a Avhaling station Avith all the necessary 

 appliances for their dissection at hand. The length of the 

 specimens seen at Innishkea varied between the limits of 50 and 

 HO feet in a straight line. Any Avluile under 40 feet is, according 

 to the Avlialei"s, not worth shooting. The Avhalers liave a definite 

 method of cutting up a whale wdiich no doubt is best suited to 

 tlieir puipdse, tliinigli from tlie fioiut of \ icw of the aiiatoiiii^t the 



