54 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



HUNTING THE HUMP-BACK WHALE (MEGAPTERA 

 LONGIMANA) IN NATAL WATEES. 



By H. W. Bell-Marley. 



(Plate I.) 



Until very recently nothing had been published or made 

 known about the habits of these Whales. In the earlier attempts 

 at classification Mr. Beddard* shows how much we may read with 

 caution or accept as authentic, and regards this Whale as known 

 under no fewer than twelve names, the late Dr. Gray being 

 responsible for four of these synonyms. This Whale's great 

 distribution has probably caused the difficulties in the fixing of 

 the species. Mr. W. L. Sclatert writes : — " Whether there are 

 several species of Hump-back Whales or only one widely distri- 

 buted species cannot be definitely settled until further com- 

 parisons with more material are possible." 



It having been noticed, between the months of May and 

 August, that these Whales passed in great numbers between 

 Natal and the Delagoa Bay coast, a company was formed last 

 May by some enterprising Norwegians, the Government having 

 given permission for a shed and machinery to be erected on 

 the Bluff side of the Channel. Catches of one or two Hump- 

 backs a day made it soon evident that this speculation would 

 prove a financial success, the first capture taking place on July 

 3rd ; and, without troubling the reader too much about statistics 

 of any kind, some idea of the value of this cetacean's oil may 

 be obtained. The 'Board of Trade Journal' says that " during 

 September oil to the value of £3397 was shipped from the Port 

 of Natal to the United Kingdom and elsewhere," as many as 

 ninety-five to one hundred Whales being cut up for this pur- 

 pose, one Whale averaging as much as six to eight tuns of oil. 



* ' A Book of Whales,' p. 164. 



f 1 Mammals of South Africa,' ii. p. 183. 



