The Republican journal., 1869-09-09
TWO HUNDRED WHALES ON A SPREE.
Hcbridcs Correspondent OF the London Times.


This morning, at about 3 o'clock, while
sleeping on board my yacht in StornoWay
harbor, | was awokc by a loud noise OF men
shouting and hammering near the yacht.
went on deck Immediately, when observed
a number of men in three OF tour boats at
tempting to drive a shoal of large fish (num-
herring perhaps two hundrcd,) towards the
shore. The fish which were evidently ofthe
whale species, were blowing and constantly
rising to the surface the water; they turned
toward the sea, and were closely followed by
the boats, which shortly turned them again
toward the mouth of the harbor. The move
ment was repeated several times, and after a
while, some other boats, well manned, APP
pcared.
The scene now became still more interest
ing, for the whales, being more hardly press
ed, made brilliant dash towards the sea, 60
ing away at a terrific pace in straight course
for the open sea; the speed appeared to be
nothing less than forty miles an hour, the wa
ter rising in misty foam as they cut their way
through it. The course the whales We're tax
mo left little hope for the success of their pur-
Suers. but coming suddenly upon point OF
land which shoaled the water, q turn to the
right brought them again in the direction of
the harbor: an hour or two soon passed, and
he fishermensof Stomoway becoming aware
of what was going on, began to JOIN in the
chase, and Il dozen boats were soon in pur-
suit the whales now making for the distant
part of the bay and again baflled by the pro-
jecting points of land bending the course to
the deep water, returned upon their pursuers
again and again.
Ii was now nearly 9 o'clock, and ii appear
cd rs if every human being in the town We're
bent on making the capture of so valuable a
prize. Boats containing men, women and
children foclIed to the scene of action, and
soon fifty rowing and sailing boats were on
gagged in the chase and as the rowers became
exhausted by the tremendous eXcrtiOns OF
long continued and fastrowing of heavy boats.
they were relieved by relays from the people
on shore, the numerous fishermen who first
Joined in the sport were now replaced by
bakers, butchers, masons, carpenters, women
and children. The shops were closed and the
Town descrtcd and so the hunt continued.
SO, 10, II, II and | O'Clock came, and GER
tainly if the inhabitants of these islands are
as pcrsevcrin9 and as indeiatigiblc always as
they have proved themselves to-day, they de-
serve to be the most prosperous people in the
world.
Not an instant We're the whales permitted
To rest; continually harrassed, from having
been timid in the extreme when first attack
ed, they now became careless of their enemy,
oars as they rushed past the boats to escape
from the various creeks into which they had
been pressed. At 3 o'clock P. NJ. they were
dislodged from a position which they had
maintained for some hours in a distant part
of the bay OF outer harbor Again they made
several attempts to escape, but by an unlucky
turn they rushed over shoal ground, and now
the most exciting time of the day came.
Maddencd by the difficulty of moving in shall
low water the whales thrashed tranticly from
side to side, raising the sea into violent break
els, rs though q gale had disturbed the water,
rocking the small trading vessels to and fro
10 come up in numbers, the whales were
blinded by the commotion they had created,
thlckening the shallow water. Having kept
closely united during the whole day, the shoal
now became divided; they seemed, as il were,
TO become AT once bewidered, and allowed
themselves 10 be goaded by the boats to the
shore, TO bc dispatched one by one by the
fishermen.
| will not attempt to describe what is still
gong on; suffice it to say that as far as can
Judge, from the opinion of the fishermen, that
there will be at least 800 whales taken; half
that number are already killed, and as many
more are safe within the harbor. The whales
are, believe, all of one kind, known as the
houlenose species; thcy measure in length
from ten to twenty feet The fishermen will
make a great gain by this prize, and they we'll
deserve it, The chase from the first until
the whales were driven within the inner har-
Dor lasted upward of thirteen hours, COM
mencing at o'clock A. NJ, and the first be-
nag killed soon after p. NJ. 1t is said to be
#eventeen Years since shoal of whales has
entered this bay so far. The event of to-day
hl5 been the most exciting thing have ever
cen scene seldom witnessed, and one
t'Ner to be forgotten.
Since writing the above | learn that 10
whales are already killed Their value,
understand, is estimated At upwards Of f7oo