The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-28
JIMMY o'BRIEN's LITTLE BILL
WHITE WHALES

THE ONLY SPECIMENS EVER TAKEN EN- ROUTE
TO NEW yoRK-A LARGE BEGINNING FOR AN
AQUARIUM.
BY kilograms received in this city from Quebec and
Portland Me-, yesterday, it is learned that the agents
Of Mr.. w. c. Coup. who Is building aquarium Of
grand proportions in this city, at the Of Thirty
firth street and Broadway, have secured two fulgrown
WHITE whales and have transported them far the
latter city safety The capture OF these whales has
heretofore been considered mpossibllty and much
money has been expended without in the fuit-
less efforts to take the monsters of the deep alive
These attempts have been persistently mado during
tho past three years by enterprisng showmcn
and by the agents OF European aquara and
has heretofore rewarded the most liberal expenditure
Of money and the most studied application OF tact and
experience to the enterprise The announcement there
FORE that there has been triumph at last provoca-
two OF astonishmen among those who take an
IN the Of the aquarium and the predictions OF
those learned In the ways and requirements Of the hnny
tribe All agree that II the large specimens secured by
Mr. Coup landed safely in New York tho feat will be
a marvel beyond precedent The whales have been
transported In safety, however, far Portland,
and the crowd of attendants having the arisocratic
giants OF the seas In charge are sanguine that under
their assduous caro- the journey will DO performed in
safety and the white wonders Of the deep will reach
New York alive and in good condition.
whales would astonish ordinary business man with
eye to the speculative field Of natures wonders In
send agents 10 tho coast OF Labrador several months
ago. There, proper financial temptations beng
offered, certain expert whaling men were in
duced to attempt tho difncult-and by many
thought to be impossible-feat OF capturing
the monsters During the spring time II the habit OF
and bays Of the coast 70 cave they enter when the
tide floods and depart very artuy It ebbs lest they
be s' Hgn and dry as has been several time, Inc
alive was novel as well as successful one.
HOW Tnxr WERE CAUGHT.
A strong tank, very large and specially constructed
for the purpose was sunk a. the mouth OF Of tho
bays, the ponderous lid top being left invitingy
strong stretched the outlet tho bay
and the fish frappers sat down and waited patiently for
the tide to ebb As the water began to shoal in the
state Of great commotion Alter vainly striving to
sail out into the open sea- being restrained BY the net
which they did not attempt TO break through, they
naturally sought the deep water In the tank and
the Id closed them. A derrick which had
been provided for the purpose was noatcd beside the
that sunk II thrown off, attempt made 70 raise
It clear out of the wuter. The weight too great,
the attempt abandoned for tho time. An inspec-
tion OF the trap, however, showed the difficulty There
in their capactous prison. and their combined weight
great for the lifting OF the apparatus At
hand The old whalers held council and determined
sacrifice two Of the prisoners In order that they
might secure the other alive. Aftor much delay
and difficulty the two smaller whales harpooned
and killed and drawn out Of the trap The
attempt to raise them then made again, and this
time with success The trap and its contents
raised clear, and after long journey a1oat landed
safely shore There car httei up for
the purpose ready to receive the strange passen
gers, and after some trouble tho tank was placed
in position Two other tank cars, laden with
wafer, attached TO this, with apparatus so ar
ranged that the tank IN which the whales disportcd
was constantly fed with stream OF fresh sea water
flowing in and out This system worked marvellousy
we'll, managed, however With the care and skill OF
large force OF attendants skilled in such Matters and
the special train OF the whales arrived At Portland late
Friday night without tho least accident to the strange
passengers At that point however, II thought
best TO abandon the ra take the for the rest
OF the trip TO New York. The tank was accordingly
transferred tho steamer Eeanora, and II ID conf
IDENTIFY expected that the whales viii arrive In her alive
and healthy Wednesday next, at pier No. IS East
River This will be the irst time that SUCH specimens
have ever been secured alive for exhibition, and New
York will have for her aquarium two specimens I'M
cQuallad even in the nquara Of Europe.