A lovely day in La Jolla

563

A Lovely Day in La Jolla E. GREY DIMOND La Jolla,

California

T

HE enthusiasm, tenacity and vigor with which Dr. White has pursued the whale has provoked remarkable research efforts on the part of others. The following narration describes the successful accomplishments of his disciples. The story has a certain unreal quality, we know, but then it should. Fictional science or science fiction ? Anyhow, it was a lovely day in La Jolla.

It was a spectacular The

day

winter clouds,

itself

was

military

sight. a superb

day-blue sky, white cliffs ; the

blue cool

fered by just the right amount The

day,

left

alone,

worth comment. unaware

of

stroyers, aircraft

Jolla

sea, white breeze bufof warm sun.

would

have

been

But the three of us were

Nature

overwhelmed overwhelming

La

and

instead

were

by Man. Man’s particular items were helicopters, de-

mine-detector carriers,

ships,

submarines,

radar, tanks and command

district

had released

a brief com-

munique stating that “off-shore maneuvers would be going on and the civilian population maneuvers as part the

should not be alarmed.” were described as routine

of an alert

west

coast

The and

to test the capacity

military

units

to

of

detect

enemy activity close offshore. And

these - maneuvers..were

shore !

Beginning

denburg down

Air

the

Force

Base

coastline

of about

had put on a spectacular performance. As the armada had moved south, military

cove

area

ten

miles.

able

to see the

and A

entire

the coastline quick

count

La

Jolla

In

addition,

tanks

with

dozens

of army

revolving

radar

for

effect

verified

15

hoard

trucks screens

and were

lined up on Coast Boulevard, right and left, and as far along the shore as we could see. The three of us were not the only spectators, of course. For the past week, all Southern California’s coast had been in turmoil while this military display worked Newspaper coverage deits way south. scribed the combined maneuvers and the Commandant of the Southern California VOLUME

15,

APRIL

1965

Army

Navy,

and Coast

Marine Guard

police moved into each beach community and took over the administration. The

on north

helicopters, 28 surface craft, three carriers, and six partially submerged submarines.

the

proceeding

rate

We were standing on the roof of our This gave us a fiveResearch building. story grandstand view of our country’s From our vantage point military might.

Air Force,

day,

and

the

100

Corps,

per

at

off-

of Van-

cars.

we were

miles

close-

50 miles north

was that of locusts

of a gigantic inching

its

mechanized way

along.

As each beach city was struck and its tourist season halted, outcries to the press The military kept its comwere vigorous. and assured the public posure, however, that this type of routine maneuver was essential, and in order to operate at “full such intensive training was preparedness,” essential. The first two days of the maneuver, with the entire show still north of Vandenburg Air Force Base, had attracted little attention; if the three of us had not been I doubt if we would highly suspicious,

564 have

caught

Lincoln,

on

as

however,

been talking

readily

as

our electronic

we

did.

whiz, had

to himself for three weeks and

per minute

to twenty

our frequency

able to get a nice,

as each day had passed, made a cross-mark

way to describe

on his calendar

came in as

Hank

and

and had grumbled

myself,

hope he made

“Where

it.”

Vandenberg

Base, the entire country

on.

that

We

kept

the

had become three

we knew

As

the

our

military

excited

radio

what

closed Lincoln

operation became

out a break

and it

to

news

the papers worked

day,

its

when

the

in by his wife.

vigil lasted without

PEEP

36 hours withthe slightest

bit

beep. pip

2%.

We were able to put the musical signal through the modulator and convert it onto our recording

down all of West LOS moved into our lab with

and

it would

beep

paper.

The final record

was a thing of beauty. We

more and more

a cot and had food brought His continuous

The best be to say that it

alerted

was going

tuned

and on the fourth

military Angeles,

sound.

I

of us became

broadcasts all day and scanned morning and evening. way south, Lincoln

clean

we were

Air Force

size of the exercise,

was at this time convinced

they?

and on

receiver

By the time the mili-

tary sweep reached to the unusual

are

to Big

per minute,

modulator

obviously

decision these

to

had

make.

elaborate

not routine should have

a

problem

We

now

military

military

the background

were

What we was notify

authorities,

information

a

that

maneuvers

practice tactics. done, obviously,

the regional

and

knew

give them

and let them

of encouragement from his electronic gadgetry. Finally at 6:00 a.m. on the morning

either gracefully call off their maneuvers or? if they insisted, let us face the public

of January 8, a faint musical beep came The first I knew of into his headphones. this was when my phone rang at home and it

and

was

Lincoln.

but

quiet

voice,

In

a

very

he said, “Chief,

matter-of-fact, it’s all right,

the press and explain

going on. Our initial before

decision I

the local

decided

I

was that?

military

should

tele-

He’s here.” The three of us spent the rest of the day

phone

in the electronics lab. With the passage of each hour, the “beep” had increased;

fected

by the widespread

would

come

a clear steady.

there had never been, in any of our minds, anyanticipation that something as elaborate,

Chief; it’s all right.

musical note came in, clear and From the radio and news broad-

casts, we learned that the military operation was just off Camp Pendleton, which is about 40 miles north of our laboratory. Lincoln had predicted that we would have initial “signal” contact at our approximately 50 miles, and as usual, the little genius was right on the line with his facts. By noon, rhythmical

we were getting It varied signal.

a constant from ten

be

the only other

what

was to do just

I contacted

headquarters,

just

involved

and

two men who might

perhaps

our way.

adversely publicity

To

af-

which

tell the truth,

expensive and public would result from our attempt to prepare a surprise for a grand old man-a slightly different surprise, it is true, but nevertheless, one that we felt was long overdue. I called our surgeon and our physiologist and told them the truth concerning the military maneuvers going tremendous on off the shore of Southern California. Each man, and each in his own way, went THE

AMERICAN

JOURNAL

OF

CARDIOLOGl

565 into

a state

finally,

of emotional Our

shock.

Sinaisky,

screamed

over

he would

be ruined,

that

and

he would

deny

that

or association down

with us.

and

urging

began

to

holiday

send “out

he would

sad and

begging,

sue us

pleading

Mexico

extracted

and on

a

tell what we knew was responsible activity.

certain

physiologist

that

walked

any

way

mention

our surgeon

or Big and

the

compartment Keep

marked

Out,”

took

out

three cans of beer, opened them and silently passed them.

his

for the

of us were

and depressed.

Solutions

in

neither

silent

“Special

what happened,

three

over to the refrigerator

was over, he was so abject as-

was

would ever make a sound.

We sat there Hank

The

into

I finally

that moment

from us by force, we would never

reached

that

From

that unless information

Before

pleading,

not

on, we agreed

quite

He of-

City

up and shook hands.

military

he calmed

quiet.

sured him that no matter would

that

any relationship

of his own pockets.”

the conversation

we

Serge

phone

Finally,

us to

and

Dr.

the

us to be absolutely

fered

and

agitation,

surgeon,

look

As we sat, we were able to

up at our oscilloscope

and

see elec-

name. I next called the physiologist

at Oceanog-

trical signals coming in at ten times per minute, and out the window to our right

raphy

berating

we could

Institute;

instead

he was audibly as he regained comments

frightened

which,

he was

Institute

indicated

sure

that

would

administrative

extent, that

the

remove

positions

back

began making

to a certain

He

us,

and gradually,

his composure,

threatening. all,

of

and forth.

playing

his job;

from

and would

all

curtail

beyond

that,

he was

the

three

with

sighs, This that

I

of us had

his institution

gotten forever. down lower heavier and

for

that

the

academic

could

be for-

Finally,

as his voice wound

and his heavier,

breathing became interspersed with

realized

devastated we would

that

he

was

crying.

me and I reassured him do nothing which would

incriminate him and got off the telephone line. Big Hank and Lincoln had been listening to our conversations and when I turned back to them, we all three shrugged ; and when I said I would be willing to keep the whole thing secret, they both nodded an assent and without another word, we stood VOLUME

15,

APRIL

1965

kept

Hank

was

his feet

hands

crossed

can

leaning propped on

of beer.

his Five

passed when I happened corner

beep. pip

pip

his

he was also sure

PEEP --

beep

comment hopes

beeper

. .

Oceanography him

with

contacts

musical

prowling

of

positive that his own academic career was ruined. He then threw in the extra that

The

its tune.

Armada

were

first

any further research activities on his part. He felt sure that his tenureship would at least protect

see the entire

back upon

in

the

a table,

chair his

abdomen

cradling

minutes

of quiet

to note, from the

of my eye, the can of beer on Big

Hank’s abdomen juggling up and down. I glanced at him and it was obvious that he was not sitting there depressed in fact chuckling with enthusiasm.

but was

Lincoln looked at him and the three of us then exchanged glances and in an instant we were

all laughing,

hooting

and

hollering.

I finally caught my breath and then asked Lincoln, “When do you send the signal?” Lincoln settled down and after a moment of thought replied “I calculate that allowing for water currents and possible interference by ships and submarines, our boy should be off shore in about 15 hours or

566 approximately

at

three

o’clock

in

the

morning.”

over to the side of the tank and let themselves

I nodded

my head

and replied,

“Cood

enough,

let’s turn on the tape recorder

we get

the

for now.

signals

We’ll

night.

It’s

ahead

with

and that

this and

we

we’re

our

each

want

going

to ourselves.

and Lincoln

on

way,

meet here at midnight

agreed

all information

go

to-

to go to keep

Right?”

nodded

so

Hank

and I left them

and went back to my office.

be examined.

iologist

was

formation

I

tried

to

get

I found

couldn’t.

some

my mind

done

drifting

but back

the type

was to study the

Hank assured the physiologist modern Hank

electronic and

ways

Lincoln

of

had

several

together while Hank explained and Lincoln

quickly

technic a

sessions

enthusiastic.

hit upon

ring

was one of

which

would

The

ring

thus

came

apart

in two halves

and

could be slipped around the blood vessel and then

snapped

together

snug

and

my associate in research, Big Hank, He had thereenjoyed fishing and boats.

Instead

fore spent

of time

with

the

technic,

all one would

need

a wild

seal

long

as an observer

while

the physiologist

was

inevitably an observer,

as

radius,

he

circulatory

we

and when he noted the crude-

and

told

ness of the technics

used by the Oceanog-

raphy group, he began making suggestions. The first thing he found was that they were

put

the

in place by surgery, back in the sea. As within

trace

a

50

his actions

mile

and his

system by radio signal.

After a few weeks of work, and

seal

to do was to

or porpoise,

remained

one could

As would data on seals. happen, Hank couldn’t be just

some

body.

capture

physiologists.

collecting

would

or the trained

electronic equipment and put the animal

This man was an authority On two occasions, and seals. out on Oceanography vessels

tight

of the harpoon

staff at the Institute of Oceanography and had become quite friendly with one of their on porpoise Hank went

fit

around the blood vessel of an animal.

around it. A tiny radio transmitter then be placed inside the animal’s

deal

this.

the problem,

became

they

small

there were doing

over all the items of a year ago which had led up to our planned midnight rendezvous.

a great

physof in-

animals in their truly native habitat.

The

work

of this

as his ambition

making

PARTII

However,

scornful

half a dozen experimental then him

called our

Lincoln

had

models made up,

in

the

scheme.

physiologist We

advised

him that we would now need a fairly goodsized seal and would

leave

the capture

of

still using harpoon technics to record some of their physiologic information. The phys-

that up to him. The physiologist was excited and promised he would not rest until he had found

iologist

the ideal

had a small

air-powered

gun with

a harpoon tip, a coil of fine wire and a reel; if successful in embedding the small weapon in the seal’s hide, the physiologist would then be able to record some information from the seal’s body. But invariably, the seal would dive beneath the boat or swim in circles and the wire would promptly break. On one occasion the two of them had gone up to Marineland where there were some trained seals who would swim

specimen

for us.

On the week-

end following our conversation, he and Hank, in Mexican waters near the Coronado Islands, netted a small female seal, and by Monday morning she was a guest in a temporary tank in our laboratory. The three of us were smitten with her. She had lovely eyelashes and limpid amber eyes. Lincoln immediately became attached to her and christened her Olivia. Olivia’s constant expression was one of THE

AMERICAN

JOURNAL

OF

CARDIOLOGY

567 tenderness, ness.

sweetness,

This

sadness

mixture

was

and

gentle-

devastating

for

same

approach

human

cases

giving

him

we

use

when

we

to him ; namely, enough

information

ning, urging us to forget any ideas of surgery

he has any questions

or decisions

and

but simply

Lincoln,

and he was, from the very begin-

instead

let Olivia

of the ocean

have

the

Big Hank

again.

listen ; all of his enthusiasm up in the potential Olivia

considerable within He

degree

a very

around

the

had

would

and a

intelligence,

and

few days she was flopping

laboratory

following

immediately

added

Lincoln.

fish

to

Over

has to agree

the years,

satisfactory.

his

is nil. rather

done

expecting

that

but

This

is just

it worked out, and Dr. Sinaisky shoes, a blue and white and a white satin tie.

we called

is tre-

judgment

3:30

We

P.M. complete

scrubbed

the way

showed up

with

blue

together

and

the

ambition

back in her tank and the information

gadg-

etry. Dr. Sinaisky is the kind of man to whom you don’t try to explain too many details.

There

master

is no doubt

that

in the field of surgery,

he is a

her

heart

various

same time, there is no doubt that he is one

recently

irritating

men

Part

I know.

By 5 P.M., Olivia

coming

through

to our electronic recording The surgeon kept chatting

while at the

of the most

was

strated

difficult and

.jacket surgery

went off smoothly.

the electronic

suede

checked

in our very competent surgical consultant, Dr. Sinaisky, and explained to him our concerning

were

to have it done sometime

afternoon.

at

of preparation,

ability

at 8 on Monday

with Olivia. a week

to be very

his diagnostic

lunch pail and each day at noon had lunch After

to make,

to do the surgery.

technical

whereas

that

Also, we had no desire to have the

surgery late

so

this has proved

His

mendous,

project.

personality

of

not

was wrapped

of his research

had a definite

freedom

refer

one of not

operations the

skill

in handling

equipment. about the had

done

had demonI am not at

them.

of the irritation comes from the fact that he always wears blue suede shoes and blue

all certain

and white

After a few days of postoperative recovery, Hank, Lincoln and the physiologist

and satin

(or brown

white) ties.

comes

from

habits

of

checked Part of

and white

jackets and the irritation

the fact that always

or green white also

he combines

talking

about

the

himself,

that he realized

by radio

he

he

was from

that Olivia

was a

seal.

took Olivia

down to Mission

Bay, which

is

a large salt water lagoon within San Diego’s city limits, and released her. By this time,

always being late to an appointment, and never being willing to admit a mistake.

she

The

indivi-

day was over they were able

skillful

a host of studies on her, and within a week,

only reason that he is a livable

dual is simple: surgeon. This worthwhile,

He is a remarkably reason

alone

made

him

and the three of us agreed that

had

coming

were their

not look at his blue suede shoes

Lincoln

but think

of him only as a pair of hands

end

the time came

explained wanted Monday

to him

to ask him to help

I called him on the phone, very

sketchily

what

we

and asked him if he could do it on morning

VOLUME15,APRlLl965

upon Lincoln’s

at 8 A.M.

This

is the

in terms

of

call, and before the

was thoroughly

result:

namely,

surgery accomplished

doing useful work for us. When

dependable

to carry

out

able to have her swim along beside boat and follow back to the dock.

we would

with the surgery,

become

pleased that

It was about brainstorm. was directly

this

had

our

; his electronic

ment was proved a success; was still a member

we

with

instru-

and yet, Olivia

of the family.

this time

that

I had

It was this brainstorm responsible

my

which

for the launching

568 of the entire buzzing

U.S.

outside

As I attempt pened,

which

realize

reasonable.

You

Hank,

Lincoln

earned

whatever

it

building.

just

what

sounds

a

rather

hap-

bit

un-

specific

instructions

The

possibility

of working

whale made our job

a baby

Lincoln

which

reputation

we

interfere

of

have

by

manner.

came up with the observation with

whale.

was a simple

one. by

any

the

We,

growth

therefore,

technic

which

bands

around have

vessels

would

in fact,

why don’t

matured. Our time schedule

we put it in the largest a

whale?

The

idea

had

would

and install it in a larger sea animal; all,

their

but then

we must not use any device

perhaps

Lincoln

of

on

much easier,

have

my concept

animal

to

to understand

Why don’t we take the device developed

sea

as

anatomy.

myself

will have and

in an unreasonable

Anyway,

was today

laboratory

to describe

I

thinking

fleet

our

future

that would

the

baby

to eliminate

place

circles

or structures

growth

as the

was about

or

which whale

as follows:

seemed so good that I really didn’t try to think much further than just that; and when

We had begun working with Olivia in November and our instrumentation work

I talked

for

they

it over

were

attempting fications

with

equally

and

to analyze

the

thought

friend

Hank,

Without

possible

of such an adventure,

our physiologist we

Lincoln

enthusiastic.

rami-

we called up

and told him what

was

possible.

and

asked

He

was

also

the

From

whale

study

continuing

physiologist

friend,

opportunity surgically would

during

December.

conversations

for

getting

implanted

be with

with

the

into

the

great

a

instruments baby

whales on their annual

migration

mons

California.

we would be back to talk it over with him.

were happily facts about

us

if

we

really

The three of us spent several days reviewing what is known about the anatomy of the

Lagoon

in Baja

whale

California

thought that we could do it. We told him to give us a few weeks to get ready and

enthusiastic

our

we decided that the best

grey

to Scam-

All of for us, and we

this was new information

and busily reading up on the whales and their breeding

ground.

heart and blood vessels of a whale, and then we settled down to make our instruments.

Although none of us had been to Scammons Lagoon, we were able to find several people in the San Diego area who

Our

had.

major

problem

in the beginning

that we had been working tiny

miniature

was

for so long with

transistorized

instruments

The

lagoon

of San Diego of Baja

California.

lagoon

connecting

concepts necessary to make the gadgets large enough to fit around the blood vessels of a whale. The whale’s heart is as big as

channel

some

a bushel basket, and his vessel is a foot in diameter.

grey

that we did not have the materials

working orange

with and

hearts

blood

no

vessels

as one’s little finger. iologist and

he asked

start

out

studied drifted

with several

ashore

than

an

around

the phys-

we didn’t

baby

baby and

larger as large

to him our problem

us why a

largest blood We had been

We called

in, explained

or the

whale. whales

was

able

perhaps

side long

to the sea by a tortuous

60

whales.

monsters

miles

Lagoon, born.

Several

each

in

length.

The

thousand

year

enter

of these Scammons

and it is there that the young are After

a few weeks, the mother

offspring

find their

through

the

long

had

to the Bering

had

how many

and

way out of the lagoon channel

into

the

sea and begin their long, long travel

He

us

on the ocean

It’s an immense,

lagoon was well known because it is the principal rendezvous point for the great

which to give

is about 400 miles south

in Mexico,

Sea.

offspring

open north

No one knew exactly were born each

year,

but the best guesses ran into the hundreds. THE

AMERICAN

JOURNAL

OF

CARDIOLOGY

569 At the Oceanography

Institute

several

men

been

during

the annual

and

they

who had

phenomenon lagoon

obstetrical

s,aid that was

the

the

there

were

to the lagoon performance,

most

surprising

shallowness

of the

and that the backs and flukes of the

whales

were

exposed

out

One of the Oceanography out in the lagoon to the fact

of

the

in a row-boat

that

water.

people had been

the whales

and swore

were

literally

After

discussions

became

evident

with that

put through channels not

only

one

could

for a matter

of years.

well

but

be

“our project”

without

was calling

and including

himself.

water no more than five or six feet deep. Our enthusiasm by this time was at a

was at its peak. unless we got our instruments

keen edge,

a

whale

fully

the project

By this time it was mid-January assemblage

the

fairly enthusiastic

whale

for

process”

By this time,

had become himself,

several

“in

over our idea and gradually, committing

it

once

and processed through

there by the hundreds and thousands and mother and baby whales could be seen in

and we were not prepared

however,

government

governments physiologist

him,

such a request,

and the

at Scammons Lagoon It was apparent to us that

within

the

next

planted two

into

or

three

the bad news which was next delivered to us. It seems that the great grey whales are The depprotected by International Law.

weeks, the chance to do so would be gone for one full year.

redations

Lincoln,

of the whalers

of the world

had

There

is

nothing

in

the

almost exterminated this particular species of whale and in fact had driven him from

leads

many lagoons and harbors which previously been his breeding ground.

honest but interpretive men. point I am trying to make

California

grey

whale

is protected

had The by in-

ternational covenant and at the present time, no one may hunt or molest them while in the lagoon. The work we had in mind was actually of

a

research

approached point

and

the physiologist

that

national

nature

could

permit

I,

therefore,

from the view-

we not obtain which

would

an inter-

let us carry

on our work with the endorsement various governments I suggested

that

and agencies

perhaps

the

we would obtain concerning of the whales might have usefulness but

information

in general.

the

reflect

world’s some

largest

useful

industry

I made

point that surely the comparative of

involved?

the circulation a fundamental

not only to the whaling

to mankind

of the

me and volunteered

VOLUME

15,

channels APRIL

Then,

if the Whale

says yes, we

1965

to direct

us through

to put in our request.

I

ourselves

Anyway, the is that after

to the InterOrganization.

Control

could

infer

carry out the research

Organization

that

we

would

next year, whereas

if

they said no-we could quietly indicate our acceptance of their decree. Our physiologist was not quite as aware

of the need

for the law to have latitude and would not Finally, after a great agree to participate. deal to

of persuasive take

us

on leave

discussion,

an

to the area

with

pliant.

consider

then put in our application national Whale Control

boat,

was in agreement

law

Scammons Lagoon, get our instruments in place in a baby whale, get back home and

small

the

of

three or four days of discussion, the three of us decided that we would get on down to

down

on

the

we would

he

agreed

Oceanography and

vessel

put us out into

us there

for three

a

days,

and pick us up again at the end of that time with no questions

physiologist

the proper

that

might

human mammal. The

consider

anatomy

mammal

information

the

us to

believe

make-up

Hank or myself which particularly

of a commitment

asked. at hand,

With

we next went to

work on our surgeon,

Sinaisky.

tion

style

to

his

personal

this much

of

In addidress,

Dr.

570 Sinaisky flying of

also

enjoyed

his private

this

the

plane.

private

satisfaction The

of

enjoyment

that

he

sooner

possibly

plane

was

undoubtedly

Oceanography

by

the

fact

that

on

he was stretched

occasions

its

use

was

necessary

practice.

He at first was not in the least

increased

sympathetic

to our suggestion

down to Scammons

Lagoon,

and

perform

whale

ever,

when we pointed

might

the

be possible

he was in Baja?

frequent to

that

his

he fly

meet us there, How-

surgery.

out to him that

for him to indicate

California

it

that

on a mission

of

would

with us than

vessel.

At

out,

face

The with

boat

was

sleeping

teenth vessel. to the

we put to sea on the Oceanography It was an overnight voyage down lagoon,

nineteenth

and

the

found Lincoln,

miles up the channel the lagoon. far by the

morning

of the

Hank and me 20

from the ocean towards

We had been brought that Oceanography vessel and left

there to proceed in our 14 foot boat, under power from an outboard motor.

little

boat

rode deep

and we made headway per hour.

Hank

moment, on top

high

tent,

and

drinking

wide water,

tanks, surgical equip-

electronic

physiologist

had insisted

Although

all along

would not go into Scammons

the

that

Lagoon

he

with

us, I had still hoped that at the last moment

US.

a combination of pity to go all the way with

We were able some 20 miles

refused

to move.

to persuade him to up into the channel-

that

point

There

he absolutely

were three

men aboard the Oceanography in a loud voice, as he helped edge

into

crew-

boat, and us over the

our outboard, he continued “Have fun on your fishing

announcmg,

trip. We’ll see you in three days. Sorry I can’t stay here and loaf with you, but we’ve got to get on down to the and look for some sea lions.”

Islands

The details of our plan were as follows: The physiologist would drop us at this point and would pick us up again in exactly

PART III The

the down,

gear.

and

way, but beyond 17 and on the eigh-

land

with the

ment

come

20.

dry

gasoline, food, SCUBA

credit, he Scammons

It was now January

stacked

bags,

he would, through and curiosity, elect

January

on

of all our paraphernalia.

mercy and that he might, therefore, have an 800 mile tax deductible flight to his finally agreed to meet us at Lagoon on the morning of

be

if he stayed

in the water

at about four knots

was in the stern

of the

boat handling

all details of motor, navigaI was perched in the steering.

tion and prow of the boat sniffing the breezes and working the binoculars back and forth over the horizon looking for the first spout. From the moment we had left San Diego, Lincoln had been seasick, and at the time we finally transferred from the Oceanography vessel into the small outboard boat, it had become a question of whether he could go along with us. In fact, I think the only reason he came along with us in the small boat was the assumption

56

hours.

interim,

In

this

we were

two

and

to work

a half

our

way

day into

scout the area and Scammons Lagoon, pick out the most likely young whale candidate. At the moment we left the Oceanography vessel, the surgeon,

the physiologist would radio and then exactly 30 hours

later the surgeon would fly down in his private plane and do the necessary whale surgery. The three of us wouid then head back from Scammons Lagoon through the 60 mile

channel,

meet

the Oceanography

boat and head back to home. We had calculated approximately mother

boat

that it would take us

six hours to the

to get from

Lagoon

and

the

another

24 hours to pitch the tent, set up our equipTHE

AMERICAN

JOURNAL

OF

CARDIOLOGY

571 ment,

find

the right

for the surgeon, The

whale,

get prepared

and get some sleep.

schedule,

as laid out on paper,

was

about as follows :

Day 1, 10 AM-Arrive

Scammons

Lagoon,

pitch camp, scout whales. down

at daylight.

to,

at most,

candidates. Day

2,

10

Narrow

selection

two or three

prime

Choose candidate. A.M.-Anticipate

arrival

of

surgeon. Day 2,12

noon until dark-Whale

surgery.

Day 3-Arrive at original rendezvous with mother ship as near as possible to high noon.

Before

we were right on sched-

leaving

the ship,

I had

on the radio with the physiologist personally He

checked

chance

as the

been

and had

signals with our surgeon.

was enthusiastic

to the soon

at

mons

but to take

the

any

Lagoon

drated

same

with

one

and

I talked

we talked

and

to try

looking

out

forward

his plane.

Oceanography

ship

As

was out

of sight, we quickly settled down into a routine, I in the bow and Big Hank standing

this over by hollering of the boat.

it over as if Lincoln

wasn’t

related

do if his kidneys

Lincoln’s

well-being

except

us, and this relieved

to what

quit

working

finally

it made

water was teeming fast

himself

Hank

throwing

when

the

big

catches,

Hank some

enough,

dunes.

By

standing

on the very tip of the bow on my toes, I could see out over the sand for a considerable distance. There was absolutely nothing to see. Just sand, birds and occasional driftwood. There was a good ocean breeze, a rocking swell to the water, and the sun steadily gained in intensity. 15,

APRIL

1965

as

talk back.

next tossed

to

on

Lincoln,

one

of

his

up on

top of our paraphernalia, alongside Lincoln, this proved the final blow, and surprisingly was only the unsteadiness

sand

all

two feet long,

Although I had realized that we were getting into uninhabited areas, I had no

by low

them

equipment

all.

reasonable appreciation of the barrenness The channel leading of the topography. into the lagoon from the open sea is con-

couldn’t

was no room in- the -boat except

and

equally sick at

with fish and almost

and

into

There

was not interested

He was extremely seasick and angry at us because we weren’t

by Hank’s line. The

drop the hook, he was The size of the fish something.

catching was amazing,

prize

on fish

as he would

out

Lincoln,

cursing

and me.

The on the trip through

the channel was brought insistence on trolling a

pointing

in any sights.

Hank

only other disturbance

however,

sights.

In

and what the chances were of his suffering heat stroke. All of this did nothing for

of

VOLUME

dehy-

engineer.

we would do if he went into shock or what we would

top

interesting

well Scam-

completely

there, and our conversation

at the stern of the ship thoroughly enjoying himself. We kept hailing each other and

tained

at

electronic

back and forth the length fact,

he was

I could

of arriving

and desiccated

Hank

time

fluids.

possibilities

concerned

He was no longer

him so angry that he was vigorously

At the moment, ule.

vomiting, see the

mother ship.

I was becoming health.

unable

Day 1,4 A.M.-Leave

Day 2-Up

By this time, over Lincoln’s

Lincoln’s

anger

kept him from charging him with the fish.

cured

him.

It

of the boat that Hank

and flailing

We had no accurate way to estimate distance, but after we had been under way five hours, we were all three enthusiastically looking ahead, waiting for the first sight of a whale. We were busily looking off into the distance, and the first whale gave us a giant fright. The channel was narrowing and with the width no more than 40 feet, a huge spout cut loose immediately to the

572 port

side of us.

same

time

We

and

all

there,

heard

in all of its glory,

was the back of a massive

whale,

than

10 feet

hide

actly

grey,

a dirty that

away.

Its

not more wasn’t

as we had expected,

brown-grey.

barnacles

deed,

it at the

the

We

would

back

crusted

As the whale

was moving

were,

our

we cut

barren

lagoon

water

in-

whales’

spouting

them.

visible,

but

than

to watch

we

it and

projected would tile

of the lagoon,

buildings,

mense

told

and

slower

speed

the shores

no dwellings,

is simply

been with

Along

to whales and not to people.

There

but was

had

be visible,

was

ex-

which belonged

there

houses

nothing

there

are

or fences. except

im-

dunes of flat sand and blue populated

by whales.

was not

large

areas

above water.

be visible

only of

The

constantly

their

bodies

Flukes occasionally

as the whale

would

slap

water.

stayed alongside him while he gave three immense spouts. We timed the spouts,

Not infrequently, a younger whale would make a large leap and partially

and

clear

they

were

occurring

about

every

The huge column of water three minutes. and vapor spouted at least 15 or 20 feet in the air. length

We

of the

whale visible

had

no idea

animal above

but

of the total

the

amount

of

the water was perhaps

the water.

obviously

Part

were iwading overstep

and it would be very easy to

our prerogatives.

with its 14 foot length,

reasonable

among ognized

probably

40

feet

would

be

that

long.

After

he

was

seeing

this

to take

Our little boat, was not the craft

out in the middle of the lagoon the huge monsters. Hank recthis and quickly turned the boat

first whale and realizing that getting into occupied waters,

we we

were were

in close to the shoreline. \Ve had brought along

all

the

next

of maps.

watching

half

hour

carefully,

we saw

and

two

in

more

of the

big

was

the

first

to

see

the

actual

From our low vantage point, lagoon. we could see only sand, and in the distance, appearing were

to come

repeated

up out

spouts

first few minutes

of

of the

water.

we counted

sand, In the

more

than

30 individual spouts occurring at one time. It wasn’t until we had turned the last portion

of the very sharp

entrance

to the

lagoon that we could see the actual water itself, and there before us, spread out over several

miles,

were

hundreds

of whales.

The

had

already

picked one rather

gain Look-

ing straight

ahead,

to see

the opposite

shore.

The mediate

other

it was impossible

impressive

sensation

fact

was our

im-

that we were in an area

the

most

deep indentation

or arm

It took us another hour after entering the lagoon to reach this point. In addition to the whales, I should have also commented

that the area belonged

area

we could

out

of the lagoon where the water had been sounded by previous visitors and found to have a maximum depth of four feet.

the thousands

that

singled

from previous writings and from maps showing the depth of the water. We had

Gulls,

was so immense

supply

likely place to do our work. We had based this choice on both facts and fables,

Our boat rode so low in the water and the no idea of the possible proportions.

a good

maps were of all vintages,

but most had items of useful information. We

fellows. Hank

was

We Eere in the whales’ own home grounds. But the immediate problem we sensed was that we

two feet high and at least 16 feet long. This was only the risible whale and a guess

of our project

accomplished.

.4fter

petrels an

and

bitterns

to the birds.

were

there

by

upon thousands. hour

of

probing,

we

finally

came upon the area which seemed to match the shape of the map and there beached

the

boat.

we

scooped

As soon as we got up on land, up a three THE

AMERICAN

foot elevation JOURNAL

OF

of sand CARDIOLOGY

573 and with all six feet seven inches of Hank on

it was

top of it we were able

you about it, let me tell you what happened.

tower.

tall observation noitering in all glasses,

Hank

to have

deed the area

After

directions

concluded

a ten foot

with that

went about

the

During

field

this was in-

we had decided

we immediately

recon-

upon,

setting

so uncomplex.

and

up our

camp.

the next

veyed the shoreline

and, in fact, we

could not give any attention to such details. . all three of us were overwhelmed by the leaping, splashing, spouting display

going

on

right

at

our

front

door.

thoroughly of us.

It

with the

proved

but

to have

feet.

We

we had

Our enthusiasm we took

in its whales,

shallow waters several thousand the sight stops you. Most of the

whales

were

and

made

no

beinlet.

a smooth,

flat,

sandy

were

a little

disappointed

area free of whales, that

a four foot

depth was simply not adequate

put

and

small

to conclude

and

stationary

tanks, of our

to find this particular

area

.Lagoon

SCUBA

outfits

and just as our charts had prethe maximal depth was about

thought. enclosed

as Scammons

of a mile and

the small inlet in front

bottom

A single whale is an impressive However, when you take a rather such

we sur-

We put on our skin diving

bottom dicted,

this spot,

a millionaire.

hours,

tell

up and down both sides

studied

explored

four

become

than

tween the three of us, we fairly thoroughly

I couldn’t help thinking that if someone could work out tourist transportation to he would

several

of our camp site for a quarter

complete

This took only moments

Rather

lagoon within

the

for a whale.

picked up, however,

boat

back

out

when

to the

main

and found several dozen whales 200 yards of our camp. Finally,

by cutting

the motor

and

using

oars,

we

motion except their intermittent spouting. An occasional whale, in deeper water, would

were able to work our way in among the whales and get a pretty good idea of just

stay submerged surfacing and

narrowed

active

except for his slow periodic “blowing.” A few more were creating most of the

fellows

motion.

I

had

impression

the

could

and smaller

not

be these

whales.

certain,

but

were

younger

I

Some of these, almost

as if playing, would raise their entire tail assembly from the water and then give a tremendous

slap against the water with their

flukes. The actual “blowing” created a surprising noise ; as Hank said, “Sounds like an asthmatic vacuum sweeper.” The and it

area

hot.

was

The

was

fairly

burning

into

intensely

sea breeze well

bright,

defeated

the flat

clear

continued, by

sands.

but

the

There

sun were

what

kind

Our major

were

looking

pointed

We had absolutely

suits and

over our plans. simple VOLUME

one, 15.

Our

and

APRIL

general

I had faith

1965

plan

was a

in it because

tails were

We found

that met our

no idea as to how often

a young whale nursed, that

quiet

probably in

nurse the

and content.

important we

first

morning This

was

on shore, thing and

theory

he

upon

then

lie

was fairly

to our plan.

By this time, and

but our theory

if he was like anything

changed

bathing

whose

our camp site.

three cow whales with calves

fore,

our

we were anxious

specifications. As you know, whale cows nurse their young just as do land cows.

awakening

into

We and

was to find mother

Further,

for a pair

towards

would

sat in the water up to our necks and talked

had.

to find a mother and child pair close to our camp site, and if at all possible, we

tent was impossibly

there-

objective

and child pairs.

no trees nor brush nor shade of any nature. We,

we

then began watching spouts and size and any “pairing-off’ of whales.

Our

hot.

of companions

our hunt down to one area,

the sun was going

returned

to

our

camp.

down, Hank

574 prepared

a

fish

own catch.

dinner,

Lincoln

fresh

from

his

and I dug a trench This trench was about

up into the beach.

10 feet wide and tapered

from a maximum

The and

loop

was now touching

nothing

stayed

submerged

watching

and

depth of two feet at its inlet to a few inches

noose

down.

at the beach

tight

we

end.

We carefully

reviewed

our plans for the next day and went through each step in detail. Everything reached

seemed

Scammons

optimal.

We

Lagoon.

We

happened.

twitch whale.

for

were

nor

two

several

gradually With

the whale

The

of us

minutes,

tightening

the rope

delighted

movement

the

pulled

fully

to

see

neither

from

the

young

The two of us shook hands, quietly

had

surfaced,

had

boat and scrambled

flippered

our

way

back

to the

aboard.

found our operating theater. We had interviewed our potential patient, and he

Big Hank put the boat into a creeping forward motion. The movement was al-

was bedded down for the night. The next morning we immediately began By completing our final arrangements.

most imperceptible,

five o’clock

yards from camp.

we were back out into the main

lagoon, ready for action. We had agreed that Big Hank would stay in the boat and handle

all

sibilities. until

navigation We

we were

and

worked

boat

our

way

15 feet behind

responback

out

the selected

under

way.

but we were definitely

The

water

was six feet deep the

and

at

this

we were

inlet

leading

about up

We inched along over a 15 minute

the

line

to

whale

began

to

and then we noted

eased

to move his tail back and forth and down. In the next moment

wearing tanks.

side

of the

boat,

our flippers, goggles and SCUBA Hank pointed the boat toward

our camp,

and we quietly

paddled

our way

towards

the whales pulling a rope along with us. Our hope, on a reasoned basis, was that the baby whale by this time would be through with his morning nursing, The water was about perhaps dozing. six feet deep at this point, and the two of us

period

our

and child, and at that point Lincoln the

25 our

two yards per minute. Our the mouth of the inlet before

and

over

to

going about boat entered

mother I

point

twitch

that he was beginning and up we lost

our headway and began to be towed by the whale. Hank calmly increased the throttle

until we were evenly matching

the

whale’s tug but still not making headway. He continued to increase the throttle until we were making noise

and

a considerable

finally

amount

re-stablished

of

movement

in our direction.

until we were opposite the whale’s flukes. We then took a measurement and found

The whale was now definitely aware that there was a problem, and he was beginning to thrash and break the water.

that they were about three feet from point to point. While still submerged, we loos-

The back end of our boat was riding quite deep in the water and Lincoln and I

ened a noose in the end of the rope

hurried

easily

worked

our way along

the loop was big enough flukes. and

Lincoln

bottom

to go around

until the

took one end of the noose

I took the other

and

the two of us,

ever so easy, swam up along the whale’s

the

flukes holding

each

side of

the noose open,

end.

forward Our

to weight

whale

down the front

became

the three of us were barely Hank

had opened

full, and we were making and

had

it down until it was close down against

into the four foot depth water. Anticipation THE

gotten

the

of something AMERICAN

the motor

up

fairly good head-

way

the

and

the boat because of its rocking and bobbling. By now,

eased it over the flukes and gently tightened hide.

agitated,

able to stay in

JOURNAL

whale such OF

himself as this

CARDIOLOGY

575 really

doesn’t

skillful

prepare

The

moment.

manipulation

powerful thing

of the

outboard

that

out into

kept

motor

made

of cutting

up our

with a quart of sodium pentothal

boat

and the

the only

dragged

of course,

the rope,

minds

had

but we

not to do this With the motor

until the boat itself sank.

going full blast, Hank built our speed up until we were hopping and bobbing and roaring

forward.

Our

race up on the beach far enough

intention

was

to

at top speed and get

ashore to drag the whale partly

landing

area

which

combination

our

dead

at the

we had

power,

made

At least get

under

lagoon. thrash

end of the boat

straight

pre-

with

the

practically

standing

in and

succeeded

up we zoomed

in berthing ourselves almost 20 feet onto dry land before grinding to a stop. Hank cut the engine

and the three

out of the boat,

flipped

flukes

system, and

the

for

swimming

for us to hold on.

whale

headway He

mendous

was not able

and

escape

was fighting us but everytime

into

to the

with trehe would

vigor,

his flukes high into the air, we were

able to give another tug of the pulley system and inch him backward a bit more into Lincoln is not a big man but he has a Although tremendous amount of courage.

moment

front

and

anesthetic.

pulley

muscles,

it possible

our baby

With

roar

and

to use his powerful

repeatedly

tremendous

weight

the

whale, unable in the two foot depth of water,

pared-dead center as much as you can when you are barely controlling the aim. a

of

the very shallow water.

up out of the water. Hank aimed the boat dead center shallow

syringe with an 18 inch long needle loaded The

being

We,

actual

of big Hank’s was

us from

the lagoon.

the alternative had

you for the

combination

of us leaped

the rope free from

we

had

talked

through

our

plans, now that we were down to the actual for Lincoln

to splash out into the

water, come up alongside the whale, insert the needle full length, and make the injection. . . this moment required an authentic brand

of courage

which

excluded

from.

He threw

his SCUBA

I was happy

Lincoln

never

to be

hesitated.

tanks off, jerked

off

the boat and snapped it onto a steel clamp. This steel clamp and its attachments We had brought were our secret weapons.

his flippers, zoomed into the tent, came rushing out bearing the huge syringe

with

The

successful

Big

to think.

the

thrashing

us ten iron

night

before,

Hank

had

ground The feet

bars

by

driven

12 feet long.

sledge these

in two clumps

into

of five poles each.

other.

Using

as

pylon

cluster,

a

pulley

each

they gave

them.

of poles

suspended The

the

two

pulleys

Big Hank

the free end of the pulley

and we clipped

and

his

VOLUME

the whale to the other end of us simply

dug

our

heels

paraphernalia, APRIL

1965

a

huge

would

hydraulic

a javelin.

simply

the

swish!

he

wham !

In

stop

around

into

the

the whale’s

went

the

he tripped

hydraulic-powered

he was

didn’t

in a circle

splashed

In the next instant, on

I think

because

He ran flukes,

and

needle.

the trigger

syringe,

and

a quart of anesthetic was into the He then had to wrestle for several

whale. moments

to get the needle

back out, and as

it came out he fell over backwards water

but quickly

He

threw

the

and

grabbed

scrambled syringe

hold

up on shore.

down,

of the

into the ran

rope

back

with

us,

and we all three spent the next 15 minutes tugging

rushed into the tent and gathered

15,

I

system,

in and hung on for dear life. Lincoln

a

us a 20 to one gain

over our own strength. grabbed

clump

we had

system between

were such

up

body

two clumps of poles were about 25 apart and were angled away from

each

and

hammer, 10 feet

as one

on the end of the pulley.

but

not

before

the

motions

ten

of the

minutes whale

had became

Finally, passed, more

576 fluid

and

cadence

relaxed, as

finally

a

and

tired

settled

with

the

Victrola,

down

same

the

to complete

whale repose.

was the first

moment

to

mother

might

time

consider

what

be doing.

into our shallow her coming

after us.

whale

but

at the opening

into

the

in

protect We

had

heard

and

would from

tales

form

zoo

weapons

with

knives

and

scalpels,

together to

condition,

The

whale

whales who had extremely and that on occasion could

was

at his thick

almost

more

grey

grey

than

the adults

Ten 10:30,

o’clock came 11 :OO, 11:30,

12 :00

the

whale

but no surgeon. no surgeon. At

began

awaken

out

the

coastline

sodium pentothal. One o’clock 1:30, 2:00: no surgeon. Another

as they

down from the Bering convinced least

these

half

visually worked Sea.

at the entrance

their

way At

pentothal. At three

up

there

We were now

stories

a dozen

surveying

were

whales

true.

were

to our shallow

lined

The

very

in further, aware

shallow

water

simply

made

for

adult

whales

to come

but

the

they

that something

they were patrolling

certainly

were

had happened,

the entrance-way

it

of us.

chosen

a likely

and now Hank length of

The area

wrestled

out of the runway. gloves,

and and

our

for

before

red flags. driftwood

The and

two

debris

I set up our folding

sterilizer,

began

strip,

setting

put

on

sterile

up our surgical

sudden

roar in

scaring

had

seen

a few flourishes Out

hopped

and taxied the

and at

California

in

every whale us and

and

our with

the

Here a

an

up to our camp.

surgeon

speechless.

of

came, pint of

flags and came in for a quick landing

Baja,

ran down the

He

and

pint

zooming

low altitude,

and

we had

a

friend

miles.

of us were

to our

a landing

and Lincoln

of it planting

them

table

night

within

another

o’clock, our

well

inlet. It was now 9 A.M. Our surgeon was due at 10 A.M., and we had a busy hour ahead

was

extremely

operating

theater and huge eyes were swinging back and forth watching our every activity. impossible

administered

to

up

water

color,

and was free of barnacles.

Lincoln

the

mid-

in

be seen with the whole front of their body of

with right

was 16 feet long and about

6 feet in circumference much

stories about keen eyesight

surgical

covered

sterile drapes and the whale snoozing at our feet.

at least

killer

we were all ready with the and

forming

against

butcher

representing

safe

whales

of

pliers

out

He

member to barricade We had also heard whales.

honed

in

portion.

injured

finely

from

impressive

laid

enemies.

an

are

and hemostats.

By ten o’clock

outside

around

These

modified

strip

ourselves

of instruments

large

forceps

landing

packs

package

hospital.

instruments

gather

and

the

that sur-

type would

so we equipped

a loan

not only up

of the usual

be impractical

lined

we found

danger

themselves

out

to see

of the shallow water We had heard pre-

Lagoon. of

looked

whales

a

whaIe’s

To our surprise

that whales

times

We

several

right

viously

the

had

inlet half expecting

with some satisfaction, one

we had

We had anticipated

instruments

with

We had our whale. This

instruments. gical

he

three was

desolated

in

desert

area for the sole pupose of carrying out surgery on a whale, and there he stood: blue

suede

jacket,

shoes,

and

white

check

white satin tie.

He

was

a little

discovered

the

proximately our

black

patient.

operating

back

when

room

was

2 feet deep in water.

prodding,

underwear

taken

he

stripped

and waded Standing

down in

his

ap-

Under to

out to examine

there

he

his his

under-

pants in water up to knees, one hand resting on the

back THE

of the AMERICAN

whale, JOURNAL

he proceeded OF CARDIOLOGY

577 to tell us about that morning, The

three

drown

of us were

him,

equally

the operation

he had done

and how good he had been. equally

but the three

well

aware

that

surgical

hands

laughed

and flattered

right

willing

to

of us also were we

here

needed

and

him,

his

now.

patted

We

him on

the back and told him how remarkable was and

how

were. With

Hank

sistant, as

all

acting

anesthetist,

proved

surgical

nurse

we

got

under

expedition.

mense

thickness

Other

part

than

asway.

of the

the

of the blubber,

im-

and con-

sequently, the immense depth of the surgical field, we were able to get down to the heart and the blood vessels quite simply. The surgeon stood to the left of the whale and, just counted

as he would along

the

with

ribs

a fat patient,

until

he came

to

the fifth rib ; and just

as he would with a

patient,

he scratched

his intended

incision

with

When

Hank

the

tip

passed

of to

a

line

erratic

off

could

only hope

that

the

continuous to

the

his mother

We

shook

clambered away

hands

back

to

San

immediately

with

Diego.

The

At daylight loaded our

our

gear.

rendezvous

of us were

committee

extremely

of whales

was not

Only

one

thing

was

different.

Some-

place, there was a 16 foot baby whale wired for sound.

of PART

his

that

five

to

Nothing The lagoon was just as beautiful and blue and unbelievable as when we had entered it.

IV

the

By

waiting

happened.

had

attention.

and

give us the Moby Dick treatment.

One skillful

broke camp

to make sure that a vigilance

incision. same

our

cautious

three

and watchful

rendezvous

had

us

the

now in my office waiting

all

of

Lagoon,

whop!

or a whale

three

vessel, but as we entered Scammons

and

a patient,

he

and roared

We headed back for with the Oceanography

hands

steak,

surgeon,

we were up and wrestled

in both

feeling

We

was out

went to bed.

scalpel,

was

the

into his plane

which was really a two foot long butcher knife, the surgeon simply grasped it firmly there

manner

lagoon.

there waiting for her hungry baby.

“hemostat.”

him

but

swimming

boat back into the water,

and Lincoln

to be the easiest

whole

he

his competitors

as the

me as a sterile

the

This

inferior

a slightly went

All of that

was history

now

a year

the

was

someplace

way

south

o’clock

old and just

whale

who,

I sat

who was

we were

offshore

to Scammons

here

for our midnight

with the baby

a

the surgeon was closing the incision.

and

working

sure, his

Lagoon.

Since he and his

Deep inside the baby whale were our instruments.

mother

We had packaged them in inert plastic material all of it weighing but two pounds.

had worked their way out the channel of Scammons Lagoon to the Pacific Ocean

When

and then, by some unknown route, but probably several hundred miles offshore,

the

last

stitch

was

in

place,

we

slipped the noose from over the end of the whale’s flukes and the four of us sat in a row on the beach

waiting

for the patient

to rouse. Slowly at first, he began to move his tail assembly and then, with more vigor, gradually worked his way out of our shallow slip into deeper water. Just as dusk was coming, he became fully waterborne and in VOLUME

15, APRIL

1965

we had first and last met him, had completed

his nursing

period,

had, with the rest of the great grey horde, headed back to the Bering Sea for their summer of feasting. Now, as fall and winter had come to the Arctic, he and the other thousands had turned south. At some place north of San Francisco, the California grey whale begins coming into shore looking for familiar landmarks. In

578 mid-December passing

La

the first whales Jolla,

own

and

from

our

Hank

had been searching.

Running layed

from

beneath

this

signal

went

whale

for

which

within

personal

a little

because

recover

had begun

it was

and

the

perhaps

time

his surgery,

de-

necessary

here

to

he was,

a

year old veteran of his first yearly migration. Shortly us met

before

back

midnight,

the

in the electronic

three

of All

room.

gear was on and popping and humming. Steady and strong at 10 to 12 or 14 per minute

PEEP---PEEP

beep-_--pip__-_ Lincoln’s

signal-finder

was now

about

building

and

consistent

was

--_-pip----beep--

miles running

schedule

of

that

north at

about

all military

radius

coming

in over

radios

suddenly

began

the

of the

top

all the

way from

Vandenberg

Base, a clear baritone “ATTENTION: WHITE!

DR.

ARE

PAUL

HERE

WHALE’S

Air

Force

voice exclaim :

IS

DUDLEY

A

GENUINE

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM.

THERE

ANY

QUESTIONS?”

Every hour this happy little message“ATTENTION: DR. PAUL DUDLEY WHITE! HERE IS A GENUINE WHALE’S ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

. pip----beep

indicated

two

a tiny tape recorder

and

musical signal which they had been chasing

came in the signal from our whale.

_-beep-_--pip--__

action,

a 25 miles

to hear,

iate

of

his fifth rib,

into

he

of our a

fairly

four

miles

beep.

. .&_

..

PEEP

. ..a..*.-

per hour. the whale our

At 2:15 Lincoln said that was well within the range of and he thought it was equipment,

time to go ahead. We glanced out the window, if we expected stead,

all we could

see were

ships, huge spotlights fleet entire

was

quite

La

Jolla

almost

to see him out there.

military personnel. At exactly 2:15,

the lights

to

Cove

shore,

was

and

packed

the with

. . . beep..

. . ARE

PEEP

. a..

THERE

. . . -pip. . . . beep -

was repeated.

ANY QUESTIONS?“We sat there until the 4:15

message

in and

came

indeed our expedition

felt

reassured

to Scammons

that

Lagoon

had been a success. Lincoln

pressed a small

white button on a black box perched middle

of

The

and floodlights.

close

as In-

of his workbench.

in the

Someplace

off

the shore of La Jolla and out in the Pacific Ocean a partially grown, young whale was completely unaware that deep in his middle an electronic tube winked back at us and in the next moment turned on a About three feet betiny tape recorder. neath his now barnacled hide, someplace

The 4:15 message came promptly on time, and we knew that, subject to the hazards

of the sea, the hazards

of whalers,

the

unpredictable nature of electronic and the wrath of speechless gadgetry, admirals, our whale would be broadcasting his electrocardiogram constantly for the next ten years and that every hour, he would send out his cheerful greeting to Dr. Paul Dudley White.

THE

AMERICAN

JOURNAL

OF

CARDIOLOGY