Whales Get 3-Day Weekend

The injured and lost humpback whales that have captured the country's attention as scientists try to woo them from the Sacramento River back to sea will be given a three day weekend. They've been prodded -- as gently as possible -- with the recorded sounds of killer whales approaching from upriver. They've been coaxed forward by the friendlier sounds of other humpbacks feeding and frolicking downriver. They've been herded with power boats. So far, nothing has worked, and scientists say that if the whales don't get a dose of saltwater soon, their wounds won't heal. The would-be rescuers will try once more today before leaving the whales with nothing more than a flotilla of boats to buffer them from pleasure cruisers enjoying their own three day weekend, according to a story in the May 25 San Francisco Chronicle.