The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-25
v

".
Tho Right whales" as IL 70 usual 10 torn
the Greenland whale and the Southern vhalc-
bone whale, are so called on account, Of the fact
that they ac the right kind Of whale for the
whaler to attack. their whalebone Is finer and
longer than that OF others, and the oil is more
abundant and Of a superior quality. These
whales genus BIl17I are characterized in
addition to the traits given In the definition which
are not found in the allied genus NeobGiGna,
by an enormous head and a peculiar form Of the
mouth. The Greenland whale. bulky though
4, Is, has been very much overrated as to size,
Scoresby. whose experience was large. says In
bis Account Of the Arctic Regions, that such
dimensions a. 80 or 100 feet are quite alb
surd. OF 322 individuals In the capture Of which
Scoresby was himself concerned, not a single
one exceeded co feet in length. The largest ever
measured by himself was only % feet An unusual
specimen caught Of Spitzbergen at the beginning
OF this century was barely 20 feet in length.
though its whalebone vas rs long as is feet
The head Of this animal . lbou, a third OF lis
total length There Is q sight hairy covering
In the form OF a few scattered, short white hairs
at the extremity Of both Jaws Though the Green
land whale Is usually hsck, Scoresby relates
that he has seen specimens which we're piebald
all over, an exaggeration OF the occasional white
uacs that ara normal for the species This
whale has no voice, though II makes a loud noise
in spoudng II swims slowly, usually al the
rate Of four miles an hour: but, when div
ing, can reach a velocity Of seven miles an
hour, The time which Right whales can remain
under water has been exaggerated, As a rule.
five or ten minutes Is the period. varied by two
minutes breathing space. When feeding. how.
ever, they may remain submerged for fifteen or
twenty minutes Scoresby mentioned q har-
pooned whale a. having Owed for a period Of
forty minutes. and Scammon assigns one hour
and twenty minu.as "a the limit Of endurance.
The G~recnland whale produces q single foal
or sucker at a birth: the young creature. when
born, Is ten To fourteen feet long. Tho mother
does not desert II until the ex expiration OF a year or
two, and tho amount ~ maternal affection exhib-
tied has besn often commented upon. Scoresby,
who was compelled 10 mingle commercial enter
Prise with some regard to senfimentality. remarks
that There is something extremely painful in
the destruction OF a whale. whom thus e~vincing
q degree Of afectionats regard for its offspring
that would do honor 10 the intelligence OF human
beings" This whale Is not really %greganous:
when a number OF them are sean together. II Is
an accident duo TO their having congregated at
the SAINT feeding spot. There are various thrill
Ing stories Of adventures with harpoonsd whales:
but It seems that the dangers are not attributable
to any feroctty on tbs part Of the animal II
seli, which Ia one Of the most umid OF beasts. 50
much 20. indeed, that a bird Angh,ing upon I've
back sometimes sets II OF In great agitation and
terror The accidents that have happened
10 rhalers arc simply aseribabls 70 The strug-
giles Of the great beast whom hsrpooned. the struG
giles are no, purposely directed at It's enemy. In
this respect the night whale Is markedly unlike
the ferce and malicious Californian whale. Tho
right whale feeds upon minute pelag1c creatures,
The minuteness Of the food led the ~ancients to
believe that this animal lived upon water only
Pteropods and crIstaoea form the bulk Of It's nu-
,rtment. which II does no, have to collect labor
ously. for the Arctic Seas are often dyed for acres
with these small floating animals. The whals's
mouth IL normous and It's capacity Is enlarged
by the outward sweep Of the rami Of the lower Jaw.
which together have = spoon.like contour. The
plates Of whalebons act as s~trainers. The food
filtered by the action Of the whalebons Is left
stranded upon the gigantic tongue and then swal.
lowed down tho narrow throat. his. accordingly,
not advantageous that this tongue should be mo-
bile and muscular; It Is, asa matter Of fact, mein-
with suewy flesh
The Right whale Was once more abundant
ON tbs coast Of Europs than 4, IL now. and was
much hunted. especially BY the Basquss, who
have lsft thAf mark usn ths Whaling industry