1892-93,] Mr Rodger on Arctic Natural History Collections. 161 
shallower water ; several Cumacea, including Diastylis goodsiri, D. 
rcdhhei^ and a form which Professor Sars believes to he a new species 
allied to the latter, Astropecten tenuispinus, far to the northward 
of its previously recorded range, a small Selaginopsis, and many 
Molluscs, including Astarte compressa, crehricostata^ and iva^diami, 
and Tricliotropis borealis and conica. 
On the 8th a skeleton of an Arctic fox was prepared. Next day 
the surface net was worked a few miles to the S. of Kater Head. 
On the following day, under steam and canvas, the ship was just 
making her way southward through heavy ice for Cumberland 
Gulf, in order to resume there the White whale fishing. The fishing 
ground was not reached until the 19th inst. On entering Cumber- 
land Gulf numerous whales were seen, and many white whales. 
Passing the Peterhead settlement on Kikerton Island, a depot for 
oil and skins brought in by the natives, the “ Esquimaux ” proceeded 
to the head of the gulf, at which spot the White whale fishery is 
chiefly prosecuted. The method is as follows : — The Wfliite whales 
come up the gulf in one or more herds with the tide, and the ship, 
or several ships acting in concert, wait till they get past. The 
ships then follow the herd, blowing steam-whistles, beating tom- 
toms, working the injection pumps, and firing guns and rocket 
guns charged with gravel, until, nicely timing their arrival, the 
whales are driven across the bar at the mouth of the fjord on the 
turn of high water. The ship on reaching the bar casts anchor 
and lowers away all hands, each boat being provided with lances, 
axes, and guns. Ranged in a line they drive over the bar and 
right up the fjord, where the whales become stranded, and are 
massacred in the shallow water. Any that escape for a while find 
themselves imprisoned within the bar. In this way the “Esquimaux” 
and the “Aurora” killed between them over 700 — by no means an 
unusual catch. Two skeletons, male and female, and a large 
number of foetuses were secured here. None of the many Belugas 
killed here or in Lancaster Sound were found to bear external 
parasites, but a number of Cyami from the White whale, and still 
adhering to the skin, were obtained from Captain Cunningham of 
the s.s. “Nova Zembla,” and are the first authentic specimens from 
that species. They much resemble, and may be identical with, 
G. monodontis. The young Beluga is of a dark slaty-blue colour, 
VOL. XX. 15/3/94 L 
