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peninsula known as The Mullet, in Co. Mayo, and it had been in 

 active operation for several years. Modern whaling was carried on 

 under very different conditions from those in vogue in earlier 

 times, when the whales, or portions of them, were dealt with at 

 the place where they were taken. Now the captures are made by 

 small steamers, which tow the carcases to the station — it may be 

 even so far as 240 miles — where the equipment enables the staff 

 to deal effectually with every portion, so that all the fragments are 

 utilized. The boat employed is of peculiar construction, having 

 a low stern, and a high bow on which is mounted the harpoon 

 gun. The build of the boat enables it to swing round rapidly — 

 a very necessary qualification when fast to a whale. It is 

 capable of steaming up to about 12 knots per hour, and can tow 

 as many as 5 whales simultaneously, under which conditions, of 

 course, its speed is greatly reduced. The lecturer proceeded to 

 describe the gun and its projectile, and the course of operations in 

 the flensing and utilizing of the carcase when towed to the station. 

 The main product is oil, of which a good whale will yield from 40 

 to 50 barrels. During the year 1913 two steamers were employed, 

 and they captured 64 whales, the yield of oil being 3,000 barrels. 

 In 1 914 86 whales were caught, but during this year three 

 steamers were employed. Six species of whale had been taken at 

 this station, the commonest being the Common Rorqual or 

 Finwhale, Balanoptera physalus, which might attain to a length 

 of 70 feet. The Blue Whale or Sibbald's Rorqual, B. muscu/us, 

 is the largest known animal, and a specimen, 100 feet long, has 

 been recorded, but not from Blacksod. The Humpback Whale, 

 Megaptera nodosa, was now nearly killed out in the Northern 

 hemisphere. The most valuable species regularly captured was 

 the Cachelot, or Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus, which 

 differed from those previously mentioned, amongst other features, 

 in that it possessed teeth instead of whalebone ; of this species a 

 number had been obtained at The Mullet. In this animal one- 

 third of the length is occupied by the head, which was little more 

 than an oil reservoir. Mr. Hamilton mooted the idea that as this 



