Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-08
Whaling on the California Coast.

Whaling on the coast of California j.
carried on to a considerable extent by com
panies Of Portuguese stationed at variou.
points south Of San Francisco. There are
two companies on the coast of San Mateo
county, one at Point Pillar, near Half Moon
Bay, the other at Pigeon Point. The Per.
tuguese whalers, taken as a class, are sloveu
ly, hardy aud reckless people, and are all
experienced whalers, most of them having
followed the business for years, making long
and perious voyages.
The company at Pigeon Point, which is a
fair sample Of the many combinations, is
composed of twenty-five men. The company
is differed something like ship they have
a captain, first and second mates, steward,
carpenter, sail-maker, etc. Two or three OF
the members are tolerable musicians, and
frequently on Sunday afternoons they play
the guitar and violin, while the rest of the
company "trip the heavy brogans" to the
tune Of ala Chimareta," the only recognized
air Of all Portuguese whaers.
They are all Of them Catholics of liberal
stamp peculiar to themselves. Lent they
observe by fasting, singing, aud occasional
N"uNihk Oh huu ullukiuS
whiskey to keep up their enthusiasm This
may not be strictly in accordance with the
rules of modern theology, but it is very
agreeable to their ideas. Altogether they
occupy about dozen neatly whitewashed
cottages, the largest Of which is used for a
kitchen, dinlng-room, chapel and dancing.
hall. For the rent Of these cottages and
the necessary space for cutting up and fry
ing out the whales, they give one. twelfth OF
the oil. The company owns five whale
boats and two skiits aud large quantity OF
other whaling gear.
The whaleboats are long, narrow, and
sharp at both ends, and built for speed
they have u carrying capacity Of about five
tons each. Tho skifIs are used for carrying
the mea from the shore to where the whale
boats are moored in the bay. When out
cruising for whales they use three boats,
with seven men in each boat. One boat
always leads off and goes directly after the
whale, while the other boats follow at inter.
walls some distance behind. Should the first
boat sail past aud miss the whale the others
in their turn should have a chance at it. If
any accident happens to any Of the boats, the
remaining boats go Immediately to its assis.
lance. They have a small platform on the
roof Of one of the cottages where a man
with pair Of marine glasses keeps a close
lookout for a passing whale. The man on
the lookout is relieved every two hours.
When net out after whales the men pass the
time away by playing "pedro," fishing or
lounging around.
When a whale is sighted from the lookout
the men instantly drop everything else aud
hasten to their boats. This is about the
only time Portuguese whaler is known to
quicken his movements The boats soon get
underweigh, and they pursue the whale until
it is overhaued, one end Of a rope is fastened
to the harpoon and the other end to the boat.
The whale is then made fast and cannot es.
cape. The whale is then killed by firing
bombs into il till dead. The bombs used
are about eight inches in length and one inch
in diameter. After the whale is killed the
three boats make fast to it and tow it into
the shore it is then hauled as far up on the
bank as possible.