Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-24
A TRUE FISH STORY.

The Free Press, Brunswick, Maine, gives at
animated account OF an attack upon shoal OF
| Black Fish, 70 or 80 in number, which were
discovered early on Monday morning the 9th
inst near Harpswell, Me. The inbabi, ans OF
that place and vicinity turned out with muskes,
harpeons, axes, sc and had rare sport They
had killed several, when council OF war was
held and more scientific mode of al. ack was
devised This was TO drive The flock into a
narrow cove. on Orr's Island, where the tide
would shortly leave them. Ten or twelve boat
| flanked the squad, and the main body cut of
their retreat in the direction Of the sea. Capt.
| John Curtis, OF Harpswei, caused his barge 10
be roweG along side Of one of the largest Of The
! Dolphins, himself Standing, with one foo, bra
ced on the bows Of the boar, and the other on
the back Of hi. antagonist. He had taken this
position. TO make the attempt Of splitting open
the mead OF the fish; but the boat veering in its
sourse. placed him ", The .'aiiiqsster"ur-fnutfre,
and the whole company saw their gallant cap.
tain riding off as,ride, upon The back OF the Dol
phip. A full quarter Of mile was he borne a
long by this new and extraordinary mode oil ma
vigation, before he alighted in safety. The
speed with which the captain was carried tbro'
the air, would have Knocked the swiitness OF the
far famed Benjamin Franklin, or any other slea'
mer which ever hoaed upon the water. Capt.
Curtis did not, however, like Arion, entertain
his Dolphin with harmonious strains" OF god
like mosc; he was constantly inHicting blows
with his axe deeply into the mons.er's blubber
At the basin, the remaining population OF the
island had collected 20 witness this unprece-
den,ed and astonishing spec tacIe. * the shouts
of merriment made the welkin ring again.
''The fish below swan to and fro
Attacked from every quarter;
'why sure" thought they, 'the DEVILS 10 pay :
'Mongst folks above the water"
AS the tide ebbed away, The dolphins, in all
their movements, began TO drag more or less
heavily through the mud, ant. it became adyi>
sable to End, if possible, some more expedi-
Ious mode Of destroying them. long knife,
i, was found. plunged in the direction Of he
grea, blood vessels, soon exhausted The foun-
tain of irs purple stream, and so great were the
torrents Of blood thus shed, that the wafer for
60 rods was Of deep crimson color. But all
Of them were not so easily 10 be dispa,ched.-.
One young nan who had long been engaged
unsuccessful'y with one Of the largest sized
dolphins, Ut length got him enlangled in
strong rope, and as he was partly swimming,
and partly dragging himself through the mud,
he dex,erously coiled il round a tall cedar,
which held him fast. Another, initiating the
tAauipie VI SdptaH SuruS, SpTdHb upoH tue
back Of his antagonist, and with the design OF
stranglins him, ran his fist into his spiracie or
breathing hole; which is situated on the back,
and just at the base Of the skull; bui he had
scarcely go, it well planted there, before
bias, from the lungs Of the monster, elected i, so
suddenly and forcibly, that he believed until
he hadIooked twice to assure himselfto the con-
trary. that his fist had actually Aown off the
handle: he lost his presence of mind, and fell
ialo the water, which was but four or FIVE feet
deep, he viewer, and this enabled HIM 10 raise
his own spiracle above the surface Of the water,
so iha, h. experienced no other inconvenience
from the accident but getting thorough wet
ting. Before sunse, all the fish were despatch
ed. Ii was truly day Of blood and carnage,
and il is remarkable that mol single indiyidu-
al was injured.
This fish is said to be species Of the Dol
phin, called by na,uralists, Deiphinus >Glo5ieeps
the late S. E gales probably drove them into
these moorings, which proved any thing hut
hospi,able TO those tenants Of the deep. ltis
thought that about IS barrels Of oil might be
made from them, worth 700 ito 1000 dollars,
One of the Dulphins had harpoon in his car
case, which appeared TO have been there great
length Of time. The law Of the chase was that
every one should have what he could kill, or
catch and secure.