The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-26
SCIENTIST WILL
OBSERVE WHALES
Expedition Leaves for the
North Pacific to Study
the Big Mammals.

Not since the good old days of wEal-
ing in the north PaSific has there been
any determined effort made to study
the whale of that region, and even at
that time such studies as were made
were of only an amateur nature and
done by the whaleTs. knowing OF this
condition, it remained for the Amerl-
can Museum of Natural History to ar
range for an expedition 10 Vancouver
Island and the far north for the pur-
pose of making a study of the whale
that 1t is believed will settle many dis
puted points.
For this purpose Roy c. Andrews, Of
The department of mammalogy and OIL
anthology has left Boston to be gone
for a number of months. in search OF
reliable data on the subject. He was
equipped with every instrument known
20 modern science for carrying out his
plans, and expectsSto be able to gather
data heretofore unknown TO the scien-
Iihc world.
He Will also take with him moving
picture apparatus for the purpose Of
gathering photographs Of the whales
In motion, and other cameras Of vaTl-
,Ous sizes. 1t is his hope that he will
be able TO send TO the museum one or
two complete specimens that will for
ever put at rest any discussion as 10
whether or not the whales of the north
Pacific are Of the same species as the
whales of tie north Atlantic
st start out very hopeful of making
a successful journey. and believe that
I shall be able to gather some very in'-
portant data" said Mr.. Andrews to a
reporter, in talking OF his trip
Whales of Mort hPacifc.
1--WE have absolutely no information
Of a scientific nature Of the whales OF
the north Pacific and. in fact, we have
mo real information Of them other than
was gathered thirty years ago by Capt
C 81. Scammcn, a former revenue Of
fcer. who gave up the revenue service
10 become a whaler. He sent some
measurements he had collected. and also
some parts of the Pacific whale, but
not enough 10 make it possible TO de-
ternine anything of 4 reliable nature
about them. Since the reports Of Cap
tain ScammOn there has been no first
hand literature on the subject.
Prof. Cope. of philadelphia. named
all of the whale species Of the north
Pacific from reports and descriptions
that were furnished ~ Captain Scam
mon. and that is the only information
we have TO go on.
I'm 1903 DR. True, curator OF the de-
partment of biology Of the National
Museum. at Washington, made a study
of the life OF the whales of the north
Atlantic, and was able TO publish a
very comprehensive volume in regard Il
them and settle many disputes as 10 the
various species.
Nov the scientific world wants &c
know the whales OF the north Pacific
as well as they do the whales OF. The
north Atlantic. and il is for this Pur-
pose that the American Museum OF
Natural History has chosen 10 send me
to that territory completely equipped
for making every possible study Of this
mammal which is being rapidly depleted
and which at the present rate of de
Etruction will be entirely wiped out be
fore the people Of ne world can learn
anything about it # the work Of in
yestigation is not done.
'T shall take photographs and meas
a1rements for the purpose of COMPARE
son. I shall also make observations OF
their habits. what they feed on, and
make a study as far as possible OF
their internal ar 4tomy. I shall send
mack a numh,r of their stOmachs pre-
served in al ,ohOl so that chemica
analysis can be made Of them. Their
III shall study the parasites and barna-
acles that are attached to them
This is considered a very important
-vvnrk because of the entirely new field
and the result of the Investigations vii
be looked for by scientists all over tbs
al cannot say that the immediate re-
suit of my trip will be of any CONNER
cial value, but one can never tell, Tor
shall gather all of the information pos
isible on the subject, and I hope TO sent
back one or more complete specimens
Nor exhibition in the museum, and this
twill be no easy task. for the monster!
weigh from seventy 10 eighty tons.
Little Known About Mammals.
1T is very remarkable how little TIT
people know about whales and thel
will know less IT, more specimens arr
not preserved.
in the first place, the whale is thu
largest animal that exists or has eve
existed This seems a strange assertion
but IL Is a true one.
Then, again. there is another strang
thing about the whale. or rather tn,
sconceptIon Of the ordinary person abou
the whale A whale does not spout wa
ter, as Is the ordinary conception Yo'
hear so many people, especially shil
captains. say that a whale was seen a
sea and was spOuting water furiOusl.
like q young geyseT- This is not true
for the reason that the whale does no
take In water in this way.
What happens is really this: BE
fore going under the water the whal
takes a long breath, and while uRde
the water this air becomes so hot tina
when the animal rises TO the top ant
the air Is released from the lungs ]
condenses and forms steam as soon a
It comes IN contact with the outer air
and this looks like a stream of waite
spouting up from the head Of tn
whale.
Whales Not Fishes.
Although living in water and bein
somewhat fishlil1e IN form, whales ar
true mammals, and have warm blood
breathe air by means Of lungs, brin
forth their young alive and nouris
then, With milk