The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-01-01

ton of Roys' whaling gun which We insert as con-
tanning information which will be interesting to
many of our readers. Captain Roys. the inventor,
is now in this city making improvements on the gun,
We learn that an expedition will fit from this port at
an early date to try the gun among the h~umpback
whales which visit this group in the spring:
This gun has been employed for some years in the
whale fishery round Iceland, with great success
forty-six whales having been captured by two small
steamers, cruising off the coast of Iceland, in the
course of two months during the summer of 1866,
and forty, during q like period, in 1867. These
whales belong to q class known as the " Sulphur
bottom ARE admittedly the most difficult to capture,
and such as ordinary whalemen think 1t useless to
attempt to take. The inventor of this gun was for
many years one of the most successful and expert
enced whaling captains sailing from America and
the present efficiency of the weapon has been attained.
only after many years of labor and experiment, and
AFTER having been practically tested IN connection
with several expeditions from New Bedford, (New
York Is correct as we are informed by Capt ROys,)
United States. 1t possesses many advantages over
the old method of whaling and this one especially,
that the rocket harpoon, with line attached, being
Hreu IRON q gun poised on the shoulder, kills the
Whale almost lnstantaneously-the rocket, by means
OF a ten-second fuse, firing q shell which explodes
on penetration.
as heretofore used, the great objection has been the
iaceratlon OF flesh, and the consequent weakening of
the hold of the baris of the harpoon on the whale
but in the use of this weapon no such objection can
be made, from the fact, that the rocket carries the
harpOon with sufficient force right into the body of
the whale, where the shell explodes causing death.
The laceration of flesh is only in the immediate
nelghborhood of the bomb, and some distance apart
is the barbed part of the harpoon. AS soon as a
strain is brought to bear on the harpoen, the barbs
open and retain a secure hold by getting imbedded
in the tough integuments of the hide, together with
the blubber, through which the weapon has pene-
trated. In every case the barbs would break before
allowing the harpoon to q" draw out"
With the rocket gun. all old difficulties and dangers
---ll l. - - c-ek shot n 1DnoOf InUar Inhlu
proving fatal besides, death is surer with this ex-
plosive shell inside the whale. than with the thrust
of a lance. Though the latter may intlct a mortal
wound, the result is not so soon attained rs with the
rocket harpoon and its explosive shell, and. conse-
quently, the whale may give much trouble, attended
with imminent danger to the crew, before 1t hnaHy
succunbs. In the one case, the harpoon is theh
thrown to fasten TO the fish, and then the lance Is
used to kill it, and, as has been seen, between these
two operations, of g fastening to and killing the
whale, arise the great risks and perils OF the whale
man in the other case, the rocket %harpoon, with its
explosive shell. not only g fastens to" but Kills
almost Instantaneously, the whale. 1t is also much
easier to take aim with u gun than to throw etfectu-
ally harpoon and lance. The latter requires much
skill, the former may be handled, by the y" greenest
hand " OH board ship, after one or two trials.
ABOUT WEIGHTS AND MEAsUREs.-When the rules
and regulations relating to the stamping of weights
and measures were published, we took occasion to
publish two sections of the law, and asked a few ques-
tons as to the intent and meaning of the same. we
waited patiently for a response from the Interior De-
partment, but none has been vouchsafed, pressure
of business being the excuse which will probably be
given, if any. Section 379 reads as follows
Said Minister shall furnish to each of the respective Cover
nors, copies of the original standards, for the use of their re-
spective divisions and it shall be the duty Of tie said GoUer,
TO them to try, and to seal such as shall be found true, with the
initial letters of their respective divisions.
The following are some of the queries which we put
to the Department:
What is meant by " presenting " the weights and measures
The custom in other Countries is to have the Inspector visit
places where weights and measures are used, and there perform
and Measures " are to be carried to the Governors Office! If
waiohinu. Hawaii, will probable enjoy carrying the same into
Hilo to be stamped.
Since our publication of the above matter. we have
heard of two instances of what We consider unjust
action on the part of prosecuting officers, but which
they excuse upon the ground of enforcing the law.
A party on Molokai was sued because his weights
were not stamped. In this case his scales must be
taken across the channel to Lahaina to be stamped
by the Governor. On another island. Hawaii, a
a party has been sued and commenting on the law
says:
"This is an unjust law. The law says 1 must take my
scales TO Hilo. Fairbanks platform would be in a nice condi-
ton when they got to Hlo. 1t would cost $40 to take them
there and $40 more to put them in order, and repair them for
stamping then they would have to be toted back and when
they arrive would be completely used up, and who is here to
repair, &C." &c.
1t seems to US that it would be easier for the re-
spective Governors to go to the scales than for the
scales to go to the Governors. However, we may be
wrong, and the public may have to endure the con-
tinuance of this unjust practice.
E- On Sunday, the various Sabbath schools con-
nected with the Kawaiahao Church. held their quar-
terly exhibition. The exercises were interesting and
spirited, though rather lengthy they consisted of
s;po;n1 raoitafion in cnnoart of lessons from the
Bible, repeating of verses, SC. One little fellow
hardly three years old, stood upon the seat, and in
a clear voice heard all over the church recited a Sc
lection from Matthew. The singing of the schools in
concert, was very good, and showed careful training.
The total number present was over 400 children, be-
sides the parents and strangers who were there. The
Kawaiahao Sabbath School Association, numbers 700
pupils, including the classes of Makua's. The last
Sabbath Of every quarter is devoted to an exhibition
of the schools the object being to excite emulation
and interest amongst the scholars.-GazeHe.
"a New CONsuLATE.-We are told that Dr E. Hof-
mann has been offered the position of Austrian Con-
sui at this port, and that it will probably be ac-
cepted. A long acquaintance with the gentleman
satisfies us that no better selection could have been
made, and that the Consular corps have cause for
CONTAMINATION in this new accession to their bod
The appointment has been made by Admiral PETE,
who is also Envoy Extraordinary of the Emperor
of Austria, and will undoubtedly be ratified by his
Government. -
THE OUTWARD MAL.-The American and Euro
pean mails by the steamer Idaho will close on
Tuesday at 8 p. NJ. Letters and papers by this
mail will reach New York January "a and London
February 4, or one month from Honolulu. Files
of the ADVERTISER for three or four weeks past, can
be procured at the counter ready for mailing. The
qualification afforded to friends in the old countries
on their receipt, more than outweighs the trouble
and expense of mailing.
STEAMER TM.-The bark Gomez lied from this
port November 20 for San Francisco, and arrived
of this port on her returR at daybreak on the 10th
of December. having been away thirty-eight days.
For the winter season this is remarkably good
time. She arrived here just five hours ahead of the
steamer. having sailed five DAYS before her, and
encountered head winds most o. the passage down.