Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-05-02
QUEBEC. April 2.

Extract OF letter from Charleston, Chaleprs
Bay, dated January IL, 1912.
+" On the night between the Doth and a,s+
November, believe the same time that 60
much damage was done by a storm at Ouebec
the wind, which also had been very strone,
here, came round suddenly to the north west
and continued to blow with great violence III,
daylight. During the whole night borridj
beilowings and howlings were heard, thinoS
without example in these parts. The dark.
ness of the nigh, and fury of the tempest, the
roaring of the STA, and the melano holy noise
of the conflicting waves, Joined with the ey.
traordinafy howlings, had d wonderful effect
on many of the good people of Boneavsnture.
Several ladies' took refuge in their cellars
others, whose minds were already agtaied bv
the appearance of the Comet, were persuaded
that they were now arrived at the period Of
the final destruction Of the wsrld.
Next morning the beach Was found strewed
with all unknown fish, which were at first
thought to be young wholesome hundred
and twenty-five Of them we're found from the
middle oft parish Of Bonaven.ure to New.
Carlisle. The sight CT SO rich prize soon
dissipated the remaining fears of the ilhabi.
tants, who, each armed with his axe and X iIe,
haif-cloathed, haf-awaAe, fell to work upon
the stranded fish,
In the course ofthe day, large one was
dlscerned at about % or 80 arpents from the
shore, believing as if in extreme pain, and
to the astonishmcnt Of all present, Instead Of
following the course of the tide, making
straight Tor the shore, on which he THEW him.
self high and dry, and was Immediately dis
patched.
Another, which had only its head on the
bank of a river, and the rest Of its body float,
let itselfbe killed without making any attempt
to escape.
No one can tell what fish they are--none OF
the hind having ever been seen on the cost.
They are of the cetacco species the largest
are about 20 feet in length, with proportion
ate thickness; the head, which is as large as
fierce, is rounded at the top, and covered
with lump of fat of about ten or twelve in.
ches in diameter 1t has blow hole like that
of a whale.-tEe lower jaw resembles that OF
the hog. The back and sides are as black as
those of the whale, the belly white. The
blubber or iat is between three and four inches
thick, and OF firm texture. Excellent oil,
Of an unusual transparency, was mace OF It.
The blood Of these fish is uncommony
warm. could not discover the nature o. ITS
food--,he stomachs of all those that | saw
opened being empty. =
Where can these fish have come ron
None of the kind have ever been known IN
these seas. am inclined to believe that they
are species Of sea hog. which earthquakes
the tempcsts, sc have frightened from their
abodes, and tina: afterwards they have eeeD
attacked by some terrible enemy. j
Several Of them appeared off l@spih@e' sHd
were apparently insensible to the shot anu
nails which were fred at them, and even III,
dismayed-lead and nails were however touna
in the lump Of fat Oh the head of those VINCE
were found on the other side ofthe bay
AT Nipiscicuit fourteen large ones were
found
This affair, upon moderate eaio u a
has been worth upwards of Sool. diVlao" q
mongst only few Of the inhabitants