72 MARINE 3IAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 



It is rarely that the Sulphurbottom "bolts" or "breaches," yet, when engaged 

 in this sprightly act, the animal presents itself in that degree of magnificence which 

 is commensurate with its inordinate activity and immense proportions. The Sul- 

 phurbottom is considered the swiftest whale afloat, and for this reason is but seldom 

 pursued, and still more rarely taken. Captain Thomas, of the bark Lagrange, in 

 1857, off San Bartolome Bay, caught one by first shooting a bomb -lance into a 

 vital part; and although the whale ran a long distance before "turning up," the 

 pursuers were enabled to keep trace of it among the large number around by its 

 "spouting blood." When the animal was nearly exhausted, the boats approached 

 near enough to "get fast," and the capture was completed. This individual yielded 

 about ninety barrels of oil, and measured eighty -five feet in length. The schooner 

 Page, of San Francisco, succeeded in taking several Sulphurbottom whales, near 

 Ascension Island, the capture being made with the bomb -gun and lance. Notwith- 

 standing that a large proportion of these whales sunk as soon as dead, the whale- 

 men were enabled to save them, the water being of moderate depth, in consequence 

 of which they rose to the surface before decomposition was far advanced. The 

 size of those taken by the Page compared favorably with the one taken by the 

 Lagrange. 



Several days' trial were made in the brig Boston, in 1858, off Cerros Island, to 

 capture these animals. It was in the month of July, and the sea, as far as the 

 eye could discern, was marked with their huge forms and towering spouts. Ten 

 were "bombed" by the best shooters, who affirmed that they "chose their chance," 

 but as soon as the gun was discharged the whale would disappear, and that was 

 the last trace seen of it, except a patch of foam, sometimes mixed with blood. On 

 the last day of pursuit, toward evening, another vessel appeared in the offing, and 

 approached within a mile or less, when the last trial bomb was fired, and the men 

 in the boats looked eagerly to the rising of the wounded whale, but in vain. A 

 signal was made from the approaching ship that they had seen the animal, as it 

 "broke water" close to their vessel, when it soon rolled over dead, and sunk. The 

 swiftness of the Sulphurbottom under water, as demonstrated at this time, appeared 

 to make pursuit impracticable. Doubtless, several of those fired at received mortal 

 wounds, or were killed outright, but their propensity to sink, and also to "run 

 under water," baffled the skill of the whalers to secure them. 



On a second voyage of the Page, six of these immense creatures were taken 

 by the bomb -gun and lance, ofi" the port of San Quentin, Lower California, where 

 the moderate depth of water was favorable for the pursuit. Large numbers of them 

 were found on this ground, where they had been attracted by the swarms of sar- 



