The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-21

NhAhAh NAV ~ thtlt O-ad Ek~ n
gravestones to their memory So there
you are" said Jack in conclusion;
that's my mates yarn, and l might
say that I've heard several old whal-
ers say that they'd heard a whale
groan when struck"
That whales talk or ever make
moses could hardly be proved by the
story of the old beach-comber, though
IL is a fact that the whales came in.
as stated, at Santa Rosa island. the
writer hearing IL from the family own
ing the island. but whether all whales
can utter sounds is another question,
and an interesting one.
Nearly 100 fishes are known to utter
sounds. the drumfsh being the noise
maker par excellence of the ocean.
But these are fishes and the whale is
a seacow. There is reason to believe
that certain whales utter sounds; not
low noises, but loud roars. and one
whale has been heard so often that il
has been given the name suggestive
of its popularity n is commonly
known as the calling whale" When
Scoresby, the great authority on
whales, was asked II the Greenland
whale has a voice he replied that he
had never heard any of the whales
utter sounds. Yet there are interest
ing records. as that Of Anderson. who
claims that at times the great rorqual
utters loud believing sounds. while the
Able LecoZ has placed himself on rec
ord in the belief that the sperm whale
utters terrible cries at times. No less
an authority than Cuvier believed that
whales uttered loud vocal sounds and
one of the most remarkable and best
known of modern illustrations has been
recorded by hin.
The story is as follows: one day the
fishermen of PaimpoI. who were always
on the watch for prey, saw a large
school of small whales in the offing, so
near the shore that they determined
to attempt their capture. They sur
rounded the school with boats and
slowly closed in on them. Nearly all
escaped, but n young one was driven
upon the flats. AS soon as the animal
found itself trapped or stranded. ii be-
gan to utter singular cries; not low,
but vigorous sounds. which were plain
ly heard for a long distance. and which
were undoubtedly understood by the
school. as they at once came in. led,
it was believed. by the mother. Then
all began to cry and below, 50 hat the
sounds were greatly augmented. and
finally, amid a roar of whale voices,
the entire school of about 30. precipi-
tated themselves upon the sands n
were captured by the fishermen, all
sacrificing themselves, so it was
thought, to save the original victim.
Cuvier says, regarding this account, i'm
the annals of the museum: las to
their power of uttering cries and bel
lowing more or less acute. we cannot.
after the assertions which have been
made By those who heard them, any
longer, entertain n doubt
The whale referred to was the Grisens,
and many fishermen Were found who
believed that IL not only uttered sounds
Or could talk to its fellows but that it in
variably swims to the assistance of it's
in rouble. DR.. Trail, who
has described and named the whale
Alelas, states that the popular name is
the Gazing of calling whale-a term APP
piled by seamen. referring to its voice:
he also states that when one is strand
ed or in danger the entire herd rush to
tho rescue, uttering vehement cries. and
I'm many instances hurting themselves
upon the beach in their efforts to sue
cor their companions.
Orbigny, the French naturalist, adds
interesting testimony to the ques-
ton whether whales communicates Vo-
cally. The entire circumstance which
on the coast of La Vendee,
was sensational in the extreme. The
Of the town of Aiguillon a
retired, when they were aroused by a
terrible noise, which proceeded. appar-
entity, from the seashore, and was COM
afterward to the believing of a
hundred bulls. Many people We're de-
noralized by the sound. but the most
outrageous dressed and went down to
ne beach to discover what it was.
says Orblgny, terrified with the
Extraordinary noise, more appalling dur
ng the silence of night, and increased
10 heavy blows on land and sea, they
to their homes. When day
appeared they saw o great animals
IL was thought there had een others
struggling with death and utterlng
ightful cries"
Thus il would seem. on the authority
If one of the foremost naturalists of his
lay. that the people Of a town We're alb
demoralized by the believing
" whales. Whether these sounds can
produced under water is a question,
)ut old whalers have seen the right
rising out Of the water, holding
Itself in an upright position for some
evidently listening and watching
or sounds. Beade tells MS that the
perm whale has undoubtedly some
method of communicating five or six
niles under water.
The whale best known for it's alleged
possession of a rudimentary language
5 the calling whale. named by Cuvier
)elphenus deductor. and by Or. Trail
)olphinus melas. and sometimes known
s the r~ound-headed purpose. 1t is a
ely dNNidtiiNf creature idilSl III IIbIl
6 Ia "A feet in length. the body being
lack, with a surface like satin or oiled
ilk. 1t has a high dorsal fin. and its
ide, or pectoral. fins are from six to
light feet I'm length, appearing more
Ike limbs than fins. Add to this a pow
rful tail. five feet across. and we have
ne of the best equipped whales for
peed. 1t is commonly found in the
ocean from SO degrees to 60
though specimens have been
cen in the Mediterranean.
The calling whale is one of the most
of the tribe, and from time inn
memorable IL has been the custom of
he Inhabitants OF the Farce islands to
unit IL. In n year the people killed
900, and as many as 100 have been
aiken i'm Iceland. The ease with which
hey are taken is due To the fact that
hey invariably follow a leader. just as
Ices a flock of sheep. DIR. Neil has Civ