Barre Evening Telegram

Longevity of Whales.

Some light was thrown upon the subject of the vitality of whales by finding one of these animals in Bering sea in 1890 with a "toggle" harpoon head its body bearing the mark of the American whaler Montezuma. That vessel was engaged in whaling in Bering sea about ten years, but not later than 1854. She was afterward sold to the government and was sunk in Charleston harbor during the civil war to serve as an obstruction. Hence it is estimated the whale must have carried the harpoon not less than 36 years.

In connection with this fact William H. Dall gives an account in The National Geographic Magazine of a discussion with Captain E. P. Herendeen. of the United States National museum of cases of whales that have been supposed to have made their way from Greenland waters to Bering strait and to have been identified by the harpoons they carried. While it is very likely that the whale really makes the passage an uncertainty must always be allowed, for ships were often changing ownership, and their tools were sold and put on board of other vessels and harpoon irons were sometimes given or traded to Eskimos. It therefore becomes possible that the animal was struck with a secondhand iron.--Popular Science.