BAL^NID^ 19 



"In the Bay of Monterey, Upper California, the best season 

 for Humpbacks is in the months of October and November ; but 

 some whales are taken during the period from April to December, 

 including a part of both months. The great body of these whales, 

 however, are observed working their way northward until Sep- 

 tember, when they begin to return southward ; and the Bay being 

 open to the north, many of the returning band follow its shores 

 or visit its southern extremity, in search oi food, which consists 

 principally of small fish, or the lower orders of crustaceans. 

 When the animals are feeding the whalers have a very favorable 

 opportunity for their pursuit and capture. 



"The Humpbacks are captured with a common hand-har- 

 poon and lance, 'Greeners Harpoon Gun,' and the bomb-lance, 

 by the whaleships crew ; and as they are very liable to sink when 

 dead, every exertion is made to get the harpoon in, with line at- 

 tached, before the bomb gun is discharged. Then if the creature 

 goes to the bottom, a buoy is attached to the end of the line, or 

 a boat lies by it, until the decomposition of its flesh has gen- 

 erated sufficient gas to allow the animal to be drawn up. The 

 length of time that elapses before this takes place of course de- 

 pends much on the depth of the water and the solidity of the an- 

 imals formation ; some individuals remaining but a few hours on 

 the bottom, while others will remain down twO' or three days 

 at the same depth. 



"The best points for Humpback, whaling on the coast have 

 been Magdalena, Ballenas and Monterey Bays; but since the 

 acquisition of Alaska numerous places have been found in the 

 bays and about the islands of that Territory, which doubtless 

 in the future will become profitable whaling stations." 



Genus Balsenoptera Lapucede. (Whale— fin). 



Dorsal fin small, curved; pectoral fin small, narrow; head 

 flat ; body slender, skin of throat with longitudinal furrows ; baleen 

 short and coarse; cervical vertebrae free. 



