Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-14
QUEBEC, April ..
QUEBECI AprII =.
Ertrcct ofG ieHer. from Carleton, Chakeurs
Ban, Gatcd IAN II, 1912.

Ersrcct ofG letter from Carleton. Chaleury
Bay, dated Jan. II, 1912.
On the night between the goth and 2lst
Nov. believe the same time that so much
damage was done by q storm 1T Quebec, the
wind, which had also been very strong here,
came round, Suddenly, 20 the north west and
continued to blow, with great violence, till
daylight. During the whole night, hoIrid
bellowings and howlings were heard, a thing
without example in those parts. The dark
ness ct the night and fury of the tempest,
the roaring of the sea, and the melancholy
noise Of the conflicting waves joined with the
extraordinary howlings, had wonderful
effect ON many of the good people of Bona
venture. Several ladies took refuge in their
cellars; others who3c minds were already
agitatcd by the appearance of the Comet,
were persuaded that they were now arrived
at the period Of the final destruction of the
World.
Next morning, the beach was found
strewed with an unknown fish, which were
at the first thought to be young Whales.
One huhdred and seventy-two OF them, were
found, from the middle of the parish of b.
naventure to New-Carlsle. The sight of SO
rich prize soon dissipated the remaining
fears ot the inhabitants, who, each armed
with his axe and knife, half clothed, half
awake, fell to work upon stranded fish.
In the course Of the day large one was
6iscerned at about 30 or so arpcns from the
shore, believing as if in extreme pain, and
TO the astonishment of all present, instead of
following the course of the tide. made straight
Tor the shore on which he threw himself high
and dry, and was Immediately dispatched.
Another, which had only its head ON the
bank OF a river, and the rest of its body
afioat, let Itself be killed without making any
attempt to escape,
No one can tell what fish they are none
similar having ever been seen on the coast.
they are OF the cetacCo species the largest
is about twenty feet in length, with proper
tionate thickness the head which is as large
as tierce, is rounded at the top and cover
ed with lump of fat OF about ten or twelve
inches in diameter; it has blow-hole like
that OF whale; the lower jaw resembles
that CT the hog. The back and sides are as
black as those of the whale, the belly white.
The blubber or fat IS between three and four
inches thick, and OF firm texture Excel
lent oil, OF an unusual transparency was
made Of it. The blood Of these fish is IN
commonly warm. could not discover the
nature OF its food the stomachs of all those
that saw opened being empty.
Where can these fish have come from
None of the kind have ever been known in
those seas. am inclined to believe that
they are species of sea-hog, which Earth
quakes, the tempests, &c. have frightened
from their abodes, and that afterwards they
have been attacked by some terrible enemy.
Several Of them appeared of Paspibiac, and
~Ngerc apparently insensble to the shot and
nails which were fred at them, and even
undisnayed: lead aud nails were however
found IN the lump of fat on the head of those
Which were found on the other side of the
bay. At Nipiscicuit IA large ones were
found. This affair, upon a moderate calcu.
lation, has been worth upwards of 1901. di-
Vided amongst only few ofthe Inhabitants.