110 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
this year as to hinder the fishing $ but it is probable that their numbers 
are recruited towards the end of the fishing season. A few common 
rorquals were seen in March. Most of the catch of whales, however, 
during the season was made during the three summer months. 
The apparent considerable excess of males over females among the 
humpbacks captured this season was quite noticeable. Out of 37, of 
which the sex is recorded, 28 were males. This is not to be accounted 
for by supposing that male animals are selected where there is a choice 
on account of greater size, for the contrary is the case. The average 
for the males recorded is under 35^ feet, while that of the females is 
just over 40-J- feet. 
Most of the blue whales obtained were of large size and in very good 
condition. The sex of a blue whale (and in a less marked degree it is, 
I believe, true of other species of Balcenoptera and possibly of other 
whalebone whales) may be distinguished by the shape of the baleen 
plates, which in a male are long (up to 4 feet including gum) and nar- 
row but thick, while in a female they are short and broad, but thinner. 
The common rorqual is extremely variable in some of its peculiarities, 
which has led to the multiplication of species and great confusion, but 
it seems now as if these differences might be classified under three con- 
stant varieties. Nearly universally recognized among the finwhalers is 
the so-called “bastard whale,” from its having been supposed to be the 
offspring of mixed parentage of a blue whale and a common rorqual. 
This variety appears to attain to larger dimensions than the typical 
form, and is described as gray rather than the usual white on the under 
side, and on one side the baleen plates are for a short distance at the 
anterior end entirely white, while the remaining portions are darker 
than the normal color. Capt. S. A. Nilsen, of the Murmanetz, says 
that he sees common rorquals pairing during May up to about June 1 
every year, and that in the spring they have calves by their sides not 
more than 8 or 9 feet long. 
The following prices offered for baleen about the middle of the season 
show the relative values per ton of each species, the plates to be not 
under 35 centimeters (13| inches) long: Blue whale, £65 ($316) ; Bu- 
dolphi’s rorqual, £40 to £45 ($195 to $219) ; common rorqual, £30 ($146), 
and humpback, about £30 ($146). 
Some idea of the size of the harpoons used may be gathered from the 
weight of one. Including the wire grummet, cord, and spun-yarn 
lashings, but without the shell or whale -line, it weighed 56 kilograms 
(over 123 pounds). The cost of each is 80 crowns ($21.44) as it leaves 
the blacksmith, and nearly 100 crowns ($26.80) when ready for use. 
During the season the catch obtained by the different companies 
(having about 22 establishments) amounted to 954 whales, of which 
there were, it is believed, 152 blue whales, 646 common rorquals, 62 
Rudolphi’s rorquals, and 94 humpbacks. These were taken by 39 
whalers, and yielded very nearly 30,000 petroleum casks of oil. 
