The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-04-24

however, very bloody and very expensive.
WHALE AND SHARK HUNTING IN TURKs'
IsLAND.-A correspondent of the Baltimore Pa
trot, writing from Grand Turk, the chief of the
Turks Islands, gives the following Dissertation ol
life on the island
Next to salt, the only staple article shipped from
mere to our shores Is whale oil. Two whaling COM
Panies are established on this Island, and large
humped-back whales are to be seen in abundance
at this season, feeding and sporting along the reefs
surrounding the Island the whalers almost inyaria-
Diy taking them In sight of land They captured
TWO on the 18th inst, large and small one from
winch they will save about so 80 barrels of oil
containing 36 gallons each. They have taken one
whale so feet long. The harpoonsmen are Ameri
.
1t is a I" rich . sight, after a whale has hoo, t,,
ed,lnto the wharf for dissection, to see the motley
mass OF human beings, white, black and yellow
(the latter always forming the larger portion in n
climate like this and where fish and turtle and 9TH
er soups abound,) of all ages and sizes of either
sex, many of them in perfect state of nature and
most OF them 10 scanty, astonishingly short and
accidental cover. luxuriatng among whale fat and
entralls, with hot tropical pouring down upou
them, (and at no season do we know what it is tc
shlUer here-nothing but sunshine perpetual green
SALT and the broad ocean, from Christmas to Christ
mas varlously engaged in making way with the
whale, (not bit of which is allowed TO be thrown
.
and the numerous sharks around it, momentarily
threaten humiliation to those farthes out upon it. al
work-some securing the bubber, and others grab.
blng for the feshy parts for table use, and which
they eat with great relish
Nearly the whole of the curious, most of the gen.
teet, male and female, and all who can either ride
| walk or crawl, of the 1000 inhabitants of Grand
Turk, are to be seen within, near, the whaling
| establishment at such time, and shall not soon
| tnott
The most exciting spectacle is, to stand upon the
wharf and observe the fights between those who are
engaged in cutting up the whale and the sharks The
latter are almost invariably killed. foated ashore
their llvers taken out, and the oil extracted from
! them,-one Of which will sometimes yield quart Of
| or The size of some of the sharks would asonish
| any one who had never before seen them and TO
speak OF the contents of the stoInachs of many of
the larger that have been killed here by the ne
gres before alluded to, would excite credulity even
In the most creduous.
One was taken that measured II feet, having in il
green turtle that weighed % I-2 lbs, besides n
number of salt Goldfish that had been lost from n
wreck 10 miles from the spot where he was taken.
Another was captured measuring Is LIZ feet, in the
stomach OF which was found large land KEY and n
hall grown kid that had not long been thrown over
board. The shark killers are ''dare deyiI' fellows
and perform as many surprising feats in tumble
|
ing. They will near up to a large hawk bill turtle
that IS not likely ever to weigh less than 50 pounds
and spring into the sea, swim after it until thew
catch it, and mounting its back are carried through
the water, and often beneath the wave at swift
rate, until the turtle gives up, and is secured in a
boat.
But the diving of these fellows is more wonderful
They VIII dive ten iahoms to clear an anchor for Sl:
or under large ship to examine her bottom for &c.
| " cents, going down on onn eida M
the other. They often dive into the holds and cab
ms OF wrecked vessels and bring booty with them.
when no such profitable employment can be had
tney VIII dive for queen conchs and sell them 10 tho
Yankees, Tor 90 cents or more each They also
gather large quantities ofthe beautiful and yorious
kinds of little shells, that lie in great abundance on
the shores any of the islands IA naIN comnr;s
ed what Is called the Presbug of the Turks and
Caicos Islands. Certain kinds of shells the Islanders
make into beautiful shell flowers, which oro 80 l;lo
real ilowers that at distance they could hardly he
distinguished from them; being so delicate, pearly
ana tasty; they would make beautiful Ornamental
bridal wreaths.