OF THE 



ROYAL SOCIETY OF TASMANIA 



1919 



STUDIES OF TASMANIAN CETACEA. 



Part I. 



{Orca gladiator, Pseudorca crassidens, Globicejjhahts melas) 



By 



H. H. Scott, Curator of the Victoria Museum, Launces- 

 ton, 



and 



Clive E. Loed, C^irator of the Tasmanian Museum, 

 Hob art. 



Plates I. -IX. 



(Eeceived 17th March, 1919. Read 14th April, 1919.) 



PRELIMINARY. 



As the present paper is the outcome, in the main, of 

 presenta^tions made to scientific societies by one who was 

 intimately connected with the Tasmanian vvdialing indus- 

 try, it has been thought fit to commence with a brief his- 

 torical review of this interesting period. Also, in view of 

 the fact that this paper is intended to serve as an inti'o- 

 ductioii to further studies of the Cetacea which we hope to 

 m.U:tually conduct in the future as opportunities present 

 themselves. The chief referenoes in thei aiccounts of the 

 early voyages relate to the pursuit of the "black whale" 

 (an unfortunate 'Vernacular name at best). As far as Tas- 

 mania is concerned the industry began to assuine com- 

 mercial importance about the year 1818, and at that time 

 it was no uncommon sight to see whale hunts in the Der- 

 went. As the industry increased the whales were driven 

 further afield, but they still continued to visit the coast at 

 sitated intervals. The season usually lasted from May, or 

 June, until November, and as the men engaged in this 

 branch of the industry formed small stations at the coastal 

 ha,js and there awaited the whales, this method of securing 

 the cetaceans became known as "bay whaling." 



There is one instance recorded of a female whale as- 

 cending the River Derwent as far as New Norfolk, 24 miles 

 above Hobart, and being killed there (1). 



(1) BischofE, Sketch History of V.D.L. (1832), p. 27. 



