The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-08-06 00:00:00

PORPOISE SHOOTING BY THE
INDIANS.

Porpoising is a pursuit followed in the Bay of Fundy
exclusively by Indians, who, during the summer
months, reap a rich harvest by selling the oil they
rudely extract from the blubber (says the Field).
Seated in their frail birch-bark canoes, and armed with
a ponderous muzzle-loader and spear, these porpoisers
paddle out on the broad waters of the bay to a distance
of from two to ten miles from shore in quest of
their oily game. Yet though the expanse of water
is so great, and the crafts in which the voyages
are undertaken are so slight, the skilful mani-
pulations of the canoes and the sharp watch
kept by the venturers on waves and weather
render accidents unheard of. The art of con-
structing and managing a birch-bark canoe belongs
solely to the red man ; and from the fact of this canoe
being the only suitable craft for employment in the
pursuit and capture of porpoises, the Indians are not
likely to be encroached. upon by whites in this
special sport, The qualifications necessary on the
part of the porpoiser is some skill in the use of
the paddles and a slight knowledge of the habits
of the animal hunted. The guns used are loaded with
about half a handful of powder, and a whole one of
shot measured in the ualip—a system of loading much
in vogue with the aborigines, and one likely to make
an impression on the unsuspecting white who ventures
a shot from the piece. On sighting a school, the
canoeists paddle to intercept the line of advance, or
follow in the wake of the herd. It is, of course, when
a porpoise rises to blow that a hasty and, as a ruld,
not easy shot has to be put in, the result of ' which is
revealed by the presence or absence of oil on the
waters. If a porpoise is badly wounded, it does not
travel far, but soon exposes itself to the discharge of a
second barrel. On its remaining motionless the
Indians push forward; the man in the bow drives the
spear into the dying animal, which succumbs after a
few struggles. The spearman then with his weapon
guides the porpoise to within reach of the steerer, who
releases and raises it, by the flipper and blowhole,
from the water, and turns it into the canoe. So
' skilfully is this operation performed, that it is imp?s-
sible to detect the slightest list in the craft during its
execution.

THE SCOTCH FISHING SEASON.—The Scotsman, says:
—The herring fishers from Wick have this season
caught 25,200 crane, which is below the quantity fir'
the past four years at the end of July, though it is
over the average for the last ten years. The catch
along the coast from Wick to Montrose is about
100,000 crane below what the takes amounted to last
year at the end of July, though it is 20,000 crane
over the figures at the end of July, 1879. The fishing
at Eyemouth during the week has been very pro-
ductive, and on Saturday morning some of the nets
ware so loaded with herrings that they sank. The
same circumstance attended the boats from Dunbar.
Heavy takes were secured on Saturday morning at
some of the Orkney stations, while the Aberdeen,
Peterhead, and illacduff boats were lighter- than
usual,

' SHOP HOURS' REGULATION.

A Bill, intituled an Act to Regulate the Hours of
Labour in Shops and Warehouses, brought into the
House of Lords by Earl Stanhope, has been issued.
It enac;.--4 that on and after the Ist day of January,
1882, it shall not be lawful for any shop or warehouse
for the sale of textile fabrics and articles of
wearing apparel, where -women and young per-
sons are employed, to be open for more than
ten hours in each day. Women and young
children shall have he same significance in
the Act as in the Factory and Workshops Act,
1878. To meet the exigencies Of the season trade, per-
mission may be granted by the Secretary of State for
the Home Department for an extension of time to any
establishment making an application therefore, but
such extension shall not exceed 60 days in each year,
nor be for more than two hours in each of said
days, and the employers receiving permission for each
extension must forward an intimation to the Home
Office each night the extension is taken advantage of.