During the months these animals lived under Dr. Townsend’s eyes, he was given an opportunity such as no other naturalist has ever had to study and observe their habits and daily life. The results of his observations have been published by the New York Zoölogical Society[17] and with Dr. Townsend’s permission I am quoting in this chapter portions of his interesting paper and republishing several of his photographs. Footnote 17: “The Porpoise in Captivity.” By Charles Haskins Townsend. _Zoölogica_, Vol. I, No. 16. Cape Hatteras is the only point in North America where a porpoise fishery has ever been regularly conducted, and where such animals can be taken near the shore and beached with drag seines. The Bottle-nosed porpoise winters off our South Atlantic coast and is quite common in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras during the fall, winter and spring months. Schools of porpoises may be seen passing every day just outside the surf. They are taken with a net of extra heavy twine, about one thousand feet long, which is placed about two hundred yards outside the line of surf and parallel with it. At each end there is a boat in waiting, ready to carry the haul lines directly ashore as soon as a band of porpoises has passed between the net and the surf. After the lines have been carried ashore the porpoises are considered fairly secure, for they do not often attempt to cross the haul lines, and even when they do, can usually be frightened back by having someone shake each line continuously while it is being hauled in. [Illustration: _Photo by E. R. Sanborn._ “Thirty-three porpoises were beached in the haul of the seine which provided our specimens.... Porpoises are valuable for their jaw oil, hides and body blubber, the value of each being in the order given.” ] It requires considerable time to bring the ends of the big seine to the beach, but even then some of the porpoises may get away by leaping over the net or attempting to dive under it. The former can be prevented to some extent by sending a boat to the outer curve of the net, which serves to keep the animals from charging against it. Some of those that attempt to dive underneath become enmeshed and, being air breathers, are soon drowned. Thirty-three porpoises were beached in the haul of the seine which provided our specimens. The greatest number taken in a single year appears to have been fifteen hundred.