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BUKIED BONES ABOUT LIVEKPOOL. 

 By G. H. Moeton, F.G.S. 

 [Read Dec. 10th, 1897,] 

 Laege bones have for many years been found in making 

 excavations for buildings in various places about Liver- 

 pool, and have occasionally excited considerable interest, 

 for they were often thought to be the remains of some 

 extinct species. On examination, however, they have 

 generally been found to be those of whales. They were 

 larger than those of any other animal, and had the 

 peculiar vesicular structure of Cetacean bones, which 

 causes them to be sufficiently buoyant for an animal 

 living in the sea. 



Towards the end of the last and the beginning of the 

 present century, the whale fishery trade was vigorously 

 carried on in Liverpool. The first vessel engaged in it 

 was the "Golden Lion,"* in 1750, a prize taken from the 

 French. In 1764 three ships took part in the trade, but 

 the first whaler built in the town was the "William" t in 

 1775, and the last in 1823 ; the greatest number of vessels 

 employed was in 1788, when there were 23 so engaged. 

 In 1823, the "Baffin," the last of the whalers, was 

 commanded by Captain Scoresby, who was afterwards well 

 known for his scientific attainments. The "William" f 

 was engaged in the trade for 50 years, and after that 

 served as a Seaman's Chapel in the King's Dock. Captain 

 Scoresby, after his retirement from the sea, was for some 

 years the chaplain of the Mariner's Church in the George's 



* "Liverpool during the Last Quarter of the 18th Century." 

 t "Memorials of Liverpool. " 



