The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-17
Angling for Whales.

The fact that whales abound in sufficient
numbers Immediately outside the harbor of
San Francisco-bctween the Farallones and
the Golden Gate-to warrant the establish
mcnt of whaling industry of some import
ance, Is not generally known the idea gen
orally entertained being that those waters
are too far south to become the resort Of
schools of whales, and that only an occa-
sional fish, separated from his companions
In the north, strays into latitude 80 far
from his supposed habitat-the Indian
Ocean. Considerable numbers of whales
can be found ut all seasons of the year in
the ocean adjacent to that port, and within
a distance that can be easily travcrscd in a
day. Between the lat Of May and the lst
OF October is the most favorable season for
fishing, on account of the calm weather
generally prevailing When fishing in
rough weather there is always some liability
or losing the fish by breaking the line or by
cutting loose when the vessel Is endangered
The abundance Of whales OH that coast Is
accounted for by the fact that whales mi
CRATE southward along the coast in winter,
returning northward during the summer,
and are constantly in motion. The varieties
OF whales which may be caught in that VI
clnsty arc the sulphur bottom, which is
about l3O tcct long, the largest in the
world, anu weighs in the neighbOrhoOd of
2oo tons, yielding small quantity Of valu-
aolc bone, but being rich in oil the hump
back, weighing 100 tons, the California
grays, eighty tons, ana the tinbacks and
blackflsh form the remainder. Sperm
whales, which are valuable on account of
Tie large quantity Of spcrmaccti which they
yield, are but rarely found in those waters,
ana prove valuable addition to vessels
catch. Capt. Thomas Whilclaw il now
constructing IL little screw steamer, sixty
five feet long, sixteen wide and nine tlecp,
with which he intends to inauguratc the
business of whaling outside the Heads.
She will be completely dcckcd over, so that
sea can 90 completely over her without
causing damage. She is built very strong
~, and is deeper than ordinary, 50 that she
can be drawn some distance into the water
Nv whale, to which she may be made fast
without danger She will be fitted with
TWO compound enEincs--four cylinders.
She can carry coal enough for run of
thirty days, which will be stored In the
alter part, and with the weight of her ma
chincry is expected to keep her propeller
submerged, to avoid the cheating" caused
ny the blades when the vessel pitches, which
can be heard by whale considerable
will be in the forward part, and will be
occupied by the crew of five men. The
vessel will be launched in about two weeks,
AMI is expected to have speed of nine
Knots an huur. Her large coal capacity is
to enable her to take an Arctic trip if re-
Wlircd. The mode OF killing whales adopt
cu by this vessel is by The whaling rocket
or bomb-lancc, which cau be discharged
from the vessel, which method POSSESSES
considerable advantages over tho o!d style
OIL huntiGg whales in Il boat and with the
land-lancc. The expectations are that All
average OF ten fish will be caught each
month. When whale is dispatched the
steamer will tow him into port and land
INN at the reduction works, where the car
cAss will be treated by IN improved process
ny which every portion will be utilized.
When whale Is caught ut sea the blubbcr
is stripped of, and the bone removed, after
which the carcass is set Adrift, and floats
around until completely dcvourcd by sharks
and birds Under the process TO be tried
by Capt. Whilelaw The fish will be cut into
sGCtions, and without dis eliminating be-
tween blubbrr, flesh or bones, will be
placed in large steam-tight tanks made of
boiler plates into which steam at high
pressure and temperature will bc intro.
duccd, which will have the effect Of COM
plctcly digcstlng the mass and separating
the oil, which will be then drawn or The
process will be completed in about eight
hours, when the residue of flesh and bones
will be taken out, dried, and afterwards
ground together to pro luce u fertilizer.
The bones are valuable for this purpose on
account of the phosphate Of lime which
they will yield. Three "lrys" can be made
IN day, and rs three digcs,ers have been
conslruclcd-each capable of containing n
ten-toot section Of whale-a large iish
can be reduced in about two days An
Arctic whale yields from 100 to 5000
pounds OF bone, worth $2.75 pound by
the cargo at New Bedford. Each whale
also yields from 100 to 250 barrels of oil,