The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-06-01 00:00:00

CAPTIVE WHALES.

The steamer Circassia, of the Allan line, arrived at Liver-
pool on Tuesday morning from Canada She had on board
three live whales, consigned to Mr. G. A. Farini, of the Royal
Aquarium, Westminster. The number shipped at Quebec
was four, hut one of them died on the passage to Liverpool.
The Times of Wednesday gives the following particulars
respecting the whales and their capture :
" We have once more a live whale in London, a fine
animal, showing no signs of organic damage in transit,
plump, notwithstanding its many days' fast, and ex-
hibiting an activity that promises well for its healthy
life in captivity. Two others arrived at Liverpool by
the same ship, the Circassia, of the Allen Line, from
Quebec. One was taken to Manchester and the other
to Blackpool. Mr. Farini, by whose enterprise all
three were secured and brought to England, received
telegrams last evening stating that the Manchester and
Blackpool arrivals were looking healthy and enjoying
their tanks.
" It will be recollected that the last whale that was
brought to London died soon after its arrival. It was
the first that had been brought alive, and a post-
mortem, examination was held by Professor Flower,
Professor Garrod, and others as to the cause of death.
It arose practically from a severe cold. The expe-
rience then gained has not been thrown away. The
blow hole of this specimen in London shows no trace
of mucous inflammation, and it is stated the two
others are equally clear. The conditions under which
the animals are obtained and brought over are these :
"They are caught off the coast of Labrador by sur-
rounding them by a line of boats and so driving them
up on the top of a tide on to the shore. As they are
stranded on the retreat of the tide they are put in
cases suited to their size and packed in seaweed.
They are then put on a sloop specially engaged, run
to Quebec, and then transferred to steamer. Mr.
Zack Coup, who has captured 125 whales alive, and
has supplied all the specimens shown in any aquarium,
we are told, undertook the entire management of
this expedition, and with four men specialy engaged
to relieve one another in throwing water over the
whales during the whole journey, brought his charge
to Liverpool early yesterday morning. Mr. Farini
was present at the disembarking, and Mr. Carrington,
the naturalist of the Westminster Aquarium, was in
attendance to take charge of the specimen for London.
The Allen Line owners and the North-Western Rail-
way Company, recognizing the scientific interest
attached to the undertaking, offered unusual facilities,
and many little difficulties were smoothed over by
their help. The train, with the truck carrying the
whale, arrived in London soon after five last
evening, when the case was removed to a van.
which reached Ole Aquarium at 6,15. Very little
time was lost. The case was hauled out of the
truck and carried to the tank on the shoulders of
21 men, the seaweed was taken out, one side of the case
was soon sawn asunder and taken off, during all whieh
time water was poured over the animal's head, and by
6.33 a chorus of cheers went up as the whale took to
the water. There was anxious suspense for more than
two minutes as to what would happen, but the whale

then rose and gave a vigorous blow, and after this it
took to swimming more and more actively, and by
rolling along the bottom began to clear away the
remnants of the skin hardened during the voyage, and
so regaining its proper white colour. It is a Beluga,
and its length is 13ft. Gin."