OR BAL^NA ALBICANS. 215 



inch, thick, and firmly attached to the under- 

 lying blubber, which was about two and a half 

 inches thick, and measured about 500 lbs. 

 when packed in casks. We kept it separate 

 from the seal, bear, and walrus blubber, as it 

 is of much superior quality to any of these, and 

 produces a far finer oil. 



This was not a full-sized specimen of Balcena 

 albicans, as I believe they sometimes attain to 

 a length of twenty feet, and circumference of 

 twelve ; but we were very much pleased at 

 having obtained a specimen, as this was the 

 only one we killed, and the only time we had 

 an opportunity of seeing these animals alive. 

 They are rather rare on this part of the coast, 

 although frequenting the bays on the west 

 coast of Spitzbergen in great numbers during 

 the summer months. 



There are said to be great numbers of this 

 whale in the estuaries of the great rivers of 

 Siberia, and the natives there sometimes kill 

 them in large quantities by stretching strong 

 nets across the tideways, and then harpooning 

 or spearing them. 



After breakfast the fog cleared away, and 

 the gale being now gone, we left our anchorage 

 at Halmanne Island, and cruised about all day. 



p 4 



