61 
NOTE ON THE BELUGA 
CALGHT AT THE MOUTH OF THE TYNE. 
By ALEXANDEK MEEK, M.Se., F.Z.S. 
Reprinted from the Transactions of the Natural History Society of 
Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. — 
New Series, Vol. 1., Part 1. 
The capture of a White Whale or Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas, 
?alL, in our district is an event of some importance, seeing that the 
species has not hitherto been recorded south of the Forth. The 
Forth specimen was obtained in 1815, but further north in Scotland 
ind on tlie west coast the Beluga has been stranded or captured 
pretty frequently. The local specimen was captured at the South 
“ Dhields sands on the morning of June 10th, 1903, in the nets of the 
salmon fishermen. The whale was observed by the fishermen after 
he had approached close to the shore, and they at once made the 
attempt to surround him with their nets. Three nets were brought 
into use, and he was ultimately entangled in one of them. Two 
ropes were fastened to his tail, but he was able to tow the two boats 
■some four miles to sea before he was exhausted. The carcase was 
landed at the Fish Quay, North Shields, and sold to Messrs. Relph 
and Hall. It is gratifying to be able to say that these gentlemen, 
with a public spirited generosity which happily is not rare on Tyne- 
side, have presented the skeleton to the Hancock Museum. 
The thanks of the Society are due also to Mr, W. H. Young, 
F.Z.S., who, recognising the importance of the capture, put himself 
to a great deal of trouble to obtain the photograph which is here 
reproduced*, and to Mr. Robinson by whom the photograph was 
taken. 
Mr. E. P. Witten, B.Sc., obtained the following measurements: — 
Length, 14 feet 2 inches ; girth, 7 feet 8 inches; the gape measured 
12 inches ; and the eye, which had a longitudinal diameter of 1 inch, 
was placed about 4 inches behind the angle of the mouth. 
I have to thank the Council of the Xat. Hist. Soc. for the use of the block. 
