THE LARGEST WHALE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2312, 3 October 1908, Page 3

THE LARGEST WHALE.

A writer-in the Wellington “Post,” quoted in the “Lyttelton Times” recently, questioned the accuracy of the statement that the Okarito whale is the largest whale known to have existed, but Mr Waite, curator of tlio Christchurch Museum, says that, as far as the accented records show, the statement is quite correct. The Wellington writer asserts that in the South Kensington Museum there is a whale nearly 90ft long. Mr Waite has consulted the “Guide” to the Museum, which shows that the largo sperm whale there is 50ft; 'and a specimen of blue whale, or Balaenoptera sibbaldi, which is the 'same species as the 'Okarito whale, is only 52ft. Tlio most authoritative work on the subject is Professor Beddard’s “Book on Whales.” It states that tlio bluo whale is the largest whale, and that its limit is SO or 85ft. “It is an inquestionahlo fact,” Professor Beddirl says, “that no creature known 1o science ever existed which was larger than the largest whale. .. Their dimensions..'have been grossly exaggerated by modern writers as well ns by tlio ancients, for whom there was more excuse. The actual length and measurements have been swollen by taking into account the bulging sides of the cetaceans, and with this help somewhat astounding dimensions have received the sanction of not snocnlly credulous persons.” He adds that “apart from exaggeration, it : s evident that whales are not onlv the largest of all animals, mammalian i r otherwise, which have over existed.” Further evidence is supplied by a work on mammals bv Sir IV. F’ aver, F.L.S., and Mr Diehard Lydekker, F.G.S.. F.Z.S., who state that, “the blue whale, the largest of all anim ils, attains a length of 80 or even sometimes 85ft.” The “Post’s” correspondent states that in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris there are two sk-hc-tons claimed to be 90ft long. Mr Waite has no work of reference dealing with the French institution, but he points out that if the statement was correct, the fact could hardly have escaped the notice of three of the most eminent writers on zoology of the day, who are not likelv to make unqualified assertions without ample grounds. The Okarito whale, with its 87ft, therefore, holds the premier position.