THE HUMPBACK AND THE SULPHUK- BOTTOM. 27 



lying by the side of each other, the M egapteras frequently administer alternate blows with their 

 long fins, which love-taps may on a still day be heard at a distance of miles. They also rub each 

 other with these same huge and flexible arms, rolling occasionally from side to side, and indulging 

 in other gambols." 



Humpback Whales in New Eng-land. — The Humpback Whale was formerly a frequent 

 visitor to the waters of New England, but of late years has not often been seen. Captain Atwood 

 tells me that a great many have been killed near Provincetown within his recollection: that is to 

 say, or since 1817. One harpooned in the harbor in' 1840 yielded fifty-four barrels of oil. Two 

 were killed in the spring of 1879, with bomb-lances. 



This species is the most valuable of the ordinary whales of the region, though, of course, far 

 inferior to the right whale. In addition to the oil, the baleen or whalebone is of some worth. In 

 past years it has sold for as much as six and one-quarter cents a pound. It rarely exceeds two 

 feet in length and is not very elastic. The shore fishery of Cape Cod, which was quite vigorously 

 prosecuted in the early part of the last century, was probably largely concerned with this species_ 



In 1879 the Humpbacks were abundant on the coast of Maine. One of the most successful 

 whalers out of Provincetown this season is the "Brilliant," a very old pink-stern schooner of 

 seventeen tons, which had been hunting this species off Deer Isle, Maine. Up to September 1, she 

 had taken four whales, yielding one hundred and forty-five barrels. The "Brilliant" carries but 

 one whale-boat and tries out the oil upon shore, towing in the whales as they are killed. On 

 the 14th of May, 1881, twenty Humpbacks were shot with bomb-lances in Provincetown harbor. 



"The Humpback," says Douglass, of the New England whales, in 1748, "has a bunch in the 

 same part of his back, instead of a fin. The bone is not good ; makes fifty to sixty barrels oil." 



The oil of the Humpbacks is said by Bennett to be superior to that from the right whale, and 

 but little less valuable than sperm oil. 



13. THE SULPHUR-BOTTOM WHALES. 



Distribution and movements. — The Sulphur-bottom Whale of the Pacific coast, Sibbaldius 

 sulfureus Cope, is said to be the largest known cetacean.^ Its name and that of its related Atlan- 

 tic species, 8. borealis (Fischer) G-eofifroy, is derived from a yellowish tint upon the white belly. 

 The Atlantic Sulphur-bottom, which is also called by English whalers the " Flat Back," does not 

 grow to the immense size characteristic of the Pacific form. In the Atlantic, the Sulphur-bottom 

 is not uncommon, though rarer than the humpback and finback. On the coast of the Califor- 

 nias, writes Scammon, it occurs at all seasons, and from May to September is often found in large 

 numbers close in with the shore, at times playing about ships at anchor in the open roadsteads, near 

 islands or capes, but, as a general rule, not approaching vessels with the same boldness as the 

 finbacks. It glides over the surface of the ocean, occasionally displaying its entire length. When 

 it respires its vaporous breath ascends to such a height that its immense size is evident to the 

 observer. It is occasionally captured with a bomb-lance, but never except by aid of the bomb- 

 lance. Being considered the swiftest of all whales, it is seldom pursued, and still more rarely 

 taken. 



The Sulphur-bottom of the Atlantic resembles the finbacks in shape and habits, and is probably 

 often confounded with them by those who see it swimming. Captain Atwood informs me that 

 none have been seen near Provincetown of late years. Professor Baird obtained a fine skeleton 

 at Nantucket in 1875 (No. 16039, U. S. N. M.). Captain Atwood writes: "Like the finback, it 



' Captain Roys, quoted by Scammon, gives tko foUowiug memorauda of an individual measurement by him: 

 Length, ninety-five feet ; girth, thirty-nine feet ; length of jaw-bone, twenty-one feet ; length of longest baleen, four 

 feet; yield of baleen, 800 pounds; yield of oil, 110 barrels; weight of whole animal by calculation, 294,000 pounds. 



