Fingers pointed at the sea, excitedly waving in the direction of a large herd of dolphins some 500 strong. None were jumping - their backs barely broke the surface - but the sight was still an impressive one and one which has been repeated on many separate occasions. Then, much to the sailor's surprise, for this species is not noted for playing in the bow waves of ships, some of the dolphins took position at its prow, matching the 18 knots of the liner as it sped on its way towards France.
							The population of the Atlantic white-sided dolphin is unknown but, as this incident suggests, they are quite common and are found, surprise, surprise, in the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is, like all its kind, a mammal but it is also a strong creature with a sharply pointed dorsal fin (the fin on its back) and flippers. Its dorsal fin, upper jaw and flippers are all black while the lower jaw and underside is white as far back as its tail. The side is grey and has two patches. One is dazzling white and starts just below the dorsal fin, stretching down to the tail. The other is yellow and starts after the first. The jaw has between 60 and 80 teeth.
						There are several other species of dolphins that can be mistaken for the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, such as the white-beaked dolphin. However, to tell which is which, look at the dorsal fin, looking particularly at its colour. That of the Atlantic white-sided dolphin is darker than that of the white-beaked dolphin. Atlantic white-sided dolphins tend to feed on schools of small fish such as mackerel, launce (greater sandeels) and herring, consuming large numbers in order to sustain their great size. (They can grow up to 3m long and weigh as much as 600 lbs.) They also feed on squid, hake and smelt, not to mention any number of other pelagic species which have the misfortune to find themselves in front of such large and hungry creatures. The females, when they breed, are pregnant between 10 and 12 months, mating often in their fairly long lives. (They live, at the least, up to 27 years.) Males do not engage in mating until they roughly 10 years old. Like many dolphins, Atlantic white-sided dolphins are vulnerable to human fishing methods, such as pair trawling. These needless deaths are very sad and should be brought swiftly to a close. In some countries they are killed for eating - 700 were once trapped in a Norwegian fjord by fishermen there - and it is to be hoped that, sooner or later, our politicians listen to the calls of scientists for them to be given the same protection as whales. They are beautiful creatures and they should be protected but, hopefully, this will be sooner rather than later!