FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 633 



ery off Long Island, where it abounds in great numbers. It was cap- 

 tured for its oil and also for its skin, which makes a tough and tolerably 

 good leather. A company has been organized for a similar purpose at 

 Cape May, New Jersey. 



THE BLACKFISH AND THE GRAMPUS. 



The Blackfish, Globiocephalus melas, was formerly very abundant oh 

 the New England coast, and seems to have attracted attention since colo- 

 nial times. Within the last half century large schools have stranded 

 almost annually, the number in a certain school in 1874 amounting to 

 1,405, furnishing 27,000 gallons of oil. So great was the regularity of 

 the appearance of these animals about Cape Cod that a company was 

 formed lor the purpose of extracting oil from them, and was quite suc- 

 cessful for a number of years. At present there seems to be much less 

 regularity in their movements. Blackfish occur along the coast at least 

 as far as Virginia, but little is known about them in their southern 

 habitats. The Virginia Blackfish is believed by Professor Cope to be a 

 distinct species, which he has designated as G. bracliypterus. G. Scam- 

 moni of the Pacific coast is common along the coast of California and 

 Lower California, but is not captured to any considerable extent. They 

 were spoken of by Colnett in 1798 as occurring near Lower California in 

 great numbers. 



The common Grampus, Grampus griseus, is not an infrequent visitor 

 on the New England coast. The number captured within the last forty 

 years is estimated by Captain Cook to be not more than fifty. The oil 

 is much esteemed and commands a high price. 



THE KILLERS. 



Killer Whales are not uncommon on both our east and west coasts. 

 The Atlantic species, which is probably Orca gladiator, is frequently 

 seen on the New England coast, and in the fall enters the harbors. 

 They are occasionally captured at Provincetown, but with no regularity. 

 The Killers of California, representing two species, 0. atra and 0. rec- 

 tvpinna, attracted the attention of Scammon, who has furnished an in- 

 teresting account of their habits and mode of attacking the Baleen 

 Whales. They range along our entire Pacific coast, going in small 

 schools, which preseut an odd appearance on account of the high dorsal 



fin. 



THE SPERM WHALE AND THE PIGMY SPERM WHALE. 



The Sperm Whale occurs regularly in but two localities off the coast 

 of the United States, the "Hatteras ground," east and north of Cape 

 Hatteras, and the "Charleston ground," off the coast of South Carolina. 

 They occasionally strand at various points, a school of eleven having 

 perished on the coast of Florida in 1882. If I am properly informed, 

 another school stranded near the same place the preceding year. In 



