even the fishermen look upon them with no unfriendly feelings. Almost yearly during the past decade I have one or more records of occurrences, having drifted hither during heavy tides. In 1896 a coastguardsman killed a specimen sleeping on the beach with his sword-stick. Several have been shot. On Nov. 3rd, 1891, a Seal seized a codling fast to a line against the Yarmouth jetty. Two hooks fastened to it; in endeavouring to land it on the beach the "snoods" broke, and the animal got away.
Grey Seal (Halichærus gryphus). R.—Two were killed in the Wash in 1881, where the species undoubtedly occurs occasionally. A young female, drifting into the neighbourhood, came up the river, and was shot on Breydon, Nov. 28th, 1882; it is now in the Norwich Museum. I feel certain another was killed in December, 1897, which I did not see.
[Walrus (Trichechus rosmarus).?.—The claim for this species to be included in the local list is doubtful. "Although now confined to the icy seas of the Arctic Circle, the Walrus was probably not uncommon on our shores in times long past. The skull is said to have been found in the peat near Ely."[1] On May 1st, 1893, the fore part of a Walrus skull with one tusk in place was dredged up in a shrimper's trawl off Yarmouth. The tusk, 11 in. long, has since been halved lengthwise, and has the appearance of dirty marble. There are a few barnacles still attached to the skull.]
Atlantic Right Whale (Balæna biscayensis). A.—Under the name of B. mysticetus, the Pagets refer to "a small one taken near Yarmouth, July 8th, 1784." It is highly improbable that this species has ever occurred here, and the Whale referred to was doubtless the Atlantic Right Whale (B. biscayensis). Formerly several Yarmouth vessels were engaged in the Whale fishery, and there yet remain several jaw-bones of this animal fixed in various parts of the town, one or two being built in gable walls, and two are to be seen planted as arches in gardens. One standing in the gas-house premises was there when the South Denes were yet unenclosed; it was the custom for those who rambled thither on Sundays to pass through it. Several aged inhabitants still boast of having done so.
Common Rorqual (Balænoptera musculus). A.—As B.
- ↑ Southwell, 'Seals and Whales of the British Seas,' p. 35.
