Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-30
A SLAUGHTER OF BIG FISH.
An Exciting Hunt With Harpoons'
Lances, Scythes and Knives-Massa-
chusetts Bay Alive With Monster
Dr~~r~ EsaH.

An Exciting Hunt With Harpoons,
Lauces, Scythes and Knives-Massa-
chusetts Bay Alive With monster
Black Fish.
For three days, says a ProYlncetoWh,
Mass, special of Nov It., the tip end Oh
Cape Cod and the waters h~ereaoouts nave
been the scene OF most %sanguinary excite
ment and slaughter. Everybody Dig
enough to handle a weapon has been klli-
ing monstrous prey. The unequal battle
began on Saturday afternoon, When the
whistle at Cooks oil works on Long POINT
blew a loud blast, which soon brought all
the men in town to the shore. Inc cry OF
"RIack fish," greeted them, n tnen
everyone possessing water craft Oh any
description put off in the wake OF the
courier boats which had broughtth news
ashore.
of late years, and the greatish were never
before known in such numbers in these
waters. The fish is of the whale family,
from 10 to 20 feet long, n its oil is per-
hans more valuable than that from any
other fish in the sea. The school was about
two mil IS off shore when sighted, ana the
water was alive with the great creatures,
which were disportiDg themselves Iazlly
upon the SUI. The first boats that arrived
soon changed the scene iRtO one OF eX-
element. Each boat was fastened by
lance or harpoon to a big blackhsh. Then
the chase began.
AN EXCITING CHASE.
The moment blood was drawn the school
started toward the wounded. This fixed
the direction of the general flight, and
thousands of fins cut through the water
toward tie bay. Every effort was made
10 drive the fish into shOal water, where
they could be more easily killed, but they
avoided the shore and kept along the coast
toward WelIfleet. A small school was
driven close to the fish weirs on Beaches
Point, but, owing to the rapid approach
of darkness, the excited fish managed to
elude their pursuers and escaped into
deep water. The chase was for the
time abandoned. Early on Sum-
day morning, however, the pursuing fleet
being reinforced by boats from Dennis,
Brewster and Wellfleet, the battle was re-
newed. All day long the slaughter was
kept up. More attention was given to
shaping the course of the flight SO if pos
sible to drive the fish into one OF the small
bays on the coast than to the killing of
single fish. Owing to the presence of a
number of pOrpOises in the school this was
unsuccessful. The fish were wild and the
men determined, but the chase toward
night was abandoned for a general slaugh-
ter.
KILLED WITH CAsE-KNIvEs.
The boats dashed into their midst about
dark and killed as many of the largest as
possible with c~ase-kniVes. They sue
ceeded in capturing about go. The re-
mainder Of the school succeeded In ind
ing deep water, and were chased across
the bay by part of the fleet, assisted by
several mackerel fishermen, who had
Joined in the pursuit. Early yesterday
morning the fish were driven betWeen the
Headlands into Well1eet harbOr. Twenty
miles had thus been covered in the long
chase. The sight in the harbor at day
break was a wonderful one. Further than
the eye could reach the bay was literally
full of fish. The great creatures, caught
in an immense trap, were in a frenzy OF eX-
citement, rushing zig-zag In all directions
and lashing the waters TO a spray. Then
the great slaughter began in earnest.
Everyone that could get atloat, ever those
on shore, took part. Vessels and boats OF
all sizes, kinds and descriptions; men
and boys representing every trade and
profession, and every available thing that
could be used for killing, were there.
Men of experience used harpoOns n
lances. Others used scythes, knives,
picks, daggers and axes. The shore was
lined with carriages, carts, men, women
and children. Every now and then a
frantic fish, wounded and desperate, flung
itself upon the shore, only to be dis
patched by the women and children on
land. Nothing else was done on Cape
Cod that day.
A GREAT SLAUGHTER.
The work continued until this after
noon, when it is supposed every fish was
captured. Every town, from Dennis to
Provincetown, was represented in the
slaughter. The number killed is variOusly
estimated at from 1900 to 1900. The pro-
ceeds are to be divided into 500 shares. The
value will probably mount to , $1,000.
The fish are to be sold at public auction
tomorrow. There were nc serious acct