Part 6

” 19.--SKELETON OF SPERM WHALE 88

” 20.--SKULL OF DITTO 90

” 21.--HEAD OF SOWERBY’S WHALE 104

” 22.--BELUGA, CAUGHT BY THE TAIL 109

” 23.--GRAMPUS 112

” 24.--Pseudorca crassidens 114

” 25.--RISSO’S DOLPHIN 116

” 26.--PILOT WHALE 118

” 27.--COMMON DOLPHIN 122

” 28.--BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN 124

” 29.--WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHIN 126

* * * * *

TABLE OF BRITISH CETACEA 48

” DIFFERENCES OF BRITISH MYSTACOCETI 82

SEALS AND WHALES

OF THE

BRITISH SEAS.

The two great groups of Marine Mammals known as Pinnipedia and Cetacea, although widely separated from each other zoologically, naturally present themselves to us side by side as inhabiting the same regions; the facilities for studying the one are also equally favourable for obtaining a knowledge of the other. It is remarkable that in few groups of the animal world, until recently, has so much confusion existed as in the Seals and Whales. This has, of late years, through the labours of European and American naturalists, to some extent been remedied, although very much still remains to be done, the literature of the subject being still so scattered, that much of it is inaccessible to the ordinary student. The arrangement and nomenclature adopted in the following short account of the Seals and Whales inhabiting or occurring in the seas, or on the shores, surrounding the British Islands, is that used by Mr. Alston in the second edition of Bell’s ‘British Quadrupeds.’

PINNIPEDIA.

The Pinnipedia (fin-footed) forms a well-marked sub-order of the Carnivora, and may be divided into three distinct families--the Phocidæ, or true Seals; the Trichechidæ, represented by one species only--the Walrus; and the Otariidæ, or Eared Seals.

=A=, opened out; =B=, closed.]

The Phocidæ are found both in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, most plentifully in the cold regions, but extending into the temperate seas; in the Northern hemisphere they are found as far south as 40° N. latitude; two species, however, are said to be sub-tropical. The true Seals may readily be distinguished by the absence of external ears, and the position of the posterior limbs, which are not adapted for progression on land, but admirably suited for propelling the animal through the element in which it obtains its sustenance. These limbs are directed backwards, and compressed laterally, the soles of the flippers being turned inwards, and are only free from the ankle-joints. (Fig. 1). Like the whole group, the Seals are carnivorous. Five species are believed to have occurred on our shores.

The family of Trichechidæ is limited to one genus, and that consisting of only one species, the Walrus or Morse, which is essentially Arctic in its habitat, and on our coasts can only be regarded as a very rare and accidental straggler; in this animal there is no external ear; its limbs are adapted for raising the body from the ground, thus enabling it to progress by their means upon dry land.

The third family, Otariidæ, consists of several genera and species (according to Gray); they are distinguished from both Phocidæ and Trichechus by the presence of external ear-conchs, and from the former by the structure of their limbs, which are free and adapted for progression upon land, where at a certain season they take up their abode for a considerable period. Dr. Pettigrew also points out that the fore-feet are hardly used by the true Seals as means of propulsion in the water, whereas in the Eared Seals they form the chief organs used for that purpose, and in the Walrus all four limbs are employed. The Eared Seals inhabit the lonely shores and islands of the Pacific Ocean and South Seas, where they are hunted for their skins; the beautiful “seal-skin” of commerce, so much prized for its lustre and softness, being the dyed and prepared under-fur of some members of this family. The Otariidæ are not represented in our fauna.

The true Seals spend most of their time in the water, but visit the shore or ice to bask in the sun or bring forth their young; this last takes place early in the summer, and it is seldom that more than one is produced at a birth. Some species enter the water almost immediately after birth, but others are two or three weeks before they leave the ice, quitting it at first very unwillingly, but soon becoming expert at swimming and diving. The power of the Seal to remain beneath the water for lengthened periods Dr. Wallace believes to be acquired rather than structural. Their food consists of crustacea and fish, with an occasional sea-bird. Some species are migratory in their habits. In disposition they are usually timid and gentle, and capable of attachment, when in confinement, to those who feed and attend them. The Bladder-nose and Grey Seals, however, appear to be exceptions to this rule; the former is said to be fierce and vindictive, rather courting than fleeing from danger, and altogether a formidable opponent. Their great affection for their young is made use of by the sealers for their destruction.

Although Seals are not found in sufficient numbers round our own coast to be of any commercial value, in the Northern Seas, where they congregate in vast numbers at the breeding season, the seal-fishery is of great importance as a branch of industry, and finds employment for a large number of vessels and men, both from this country and from the ports of Northern Europe. In the Greenland seal-fishery the Norwegian whalers had in 1874 sixteen steamers and nineteen sailing-ships, with an aggregate tonnage of 9,000 tons, manned by 1,600 sailors, and in the three years ending 1874 they killed 142,500 young Seals and 128,000 old ones, notwithstanding which the balance-sheet of the three years showed only a small profit on the steamers and a large loss on the sailing vessels. An official return issued by Messrs. David Bruce and Co., of Dundee, shows that in the season of 1879, eleven Dundee ships and five from Peterhead, were engaged in the Greenland seal-trade; the total catch of these sixteen ships was 35,044 Seals; four ships from Dundee visited Newfoundland and captured 70,355 Seals, making a total for the British ships alone of 105,399 Seals, exclusive of those wounded and lost, or otherwise destroyed. These produced 1280 tons of oil, worth about £25 per ton, or £32,000, exclusive of skins, which sell for about 5s. each. The majority of the Norwegian vessels also bring their cargoes to this country. Captain David Gray informs me that the seal-fishery was commenced from the Port of Peterhead, in the year 1819, since which time to the close of the season of 1879, the large number of 1,673,052 Seals have been taken by the vessels belonging to that port. The Dundee vessels did not take part in the seal-fishery till the year 1860, but have from that time to 1879 taken 917,278 Seals. This total is greatly swollen by the results of the Newfoundland fishery; four Dundee vessels in 1879 took 70,355 Seals in Newfoundland, whereas, in the same season, eleven Dundee and five Peterhead vessels took only 35,044 Seals in the Greenland fishery. The Dundee ships, after the Newfoundland fishery is ended, generally land their oil and skins at St. John’s, and proceed on their whaling voyage to Greenland and Davis’ Straits.

Dr. Wallace estimates the annual produce of the Greenland Seal-fishery alone at the sum of £116,000; the bulk of the seals taken are the Harp Seal (Phoca grœnlandica).

Several attempts had been made to establish a seal-fishery at Newfoundland, from the port of Dundee, but with small success till the year 1876: in that year Messrs. Alexander Stephen and Son secured premises at St. John’s, and sent out two vessels to be manned chiefly by a Newfoundland crew; the result was a great success, and this firm has since prosecuted the fishing with very satisfactory results. The Dundee Seal and Whale Fishing Company have also three steamers in the trade, in addition to those engaged at the Greenland fishery. Mr. David Bruce, of Dundee, to whom I am indebted for the above particulars, informs me that the season of 1880 was a failure in the Newfoundland fishery, and that out of a fleet of twenty-four steamers, not more than six of them would pay their expenses.