Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-10-18
TRAPPING A WHALE.

That's what I'm q tellin' We"
Yes, = was the reply, las lively whales
as ever We clapped your eyes on
The speaker was fisherman of note of
a very small town on the Island of Bic,
near the Gulf of st. Lawrence, and his
statement that he was about to ship a
whale to Europe had rather staggered
his listener.
''Why," he continued, sI've done it
already, and it amt likely can't do it
agin. kin ship anything from Goldfish
to a whale, and if they foller my orders
the goods III git there ship-s6ape and
lively, right side up with care. That is
what | ship 'em in, added the fisherman,
pointing to box about 20x7 feet that
had evidently just been put together.
mo, amt goin' to put a sail on it and
beat over-I kin beat that all boiler. But
come along and III show you how the
thing is done
A few minutes later pair of horses and
a low set of wheels were brought out. and
by the aid of levers the big box was
mounted or pried upon them, and getting
aboard with the fisherman the writer was
soon numbering down toward the sandy
beach.
Don't git out, " said the fisherman, as
the horses entered the water. "Stay for
the launchin'; she'll hold you and twenty.
more -
The wheels were driven in until the
box into which the writer had jumped
fioated clear of the wheels, and the
launch was successfully made. The
craft might have been running mate to
NOah's ark, and was to receive animals
much after the same fashion. There
was rope in the inside, to which was
attached rock, and this the writer
tossed out and so prevented sail upon
the broad river
Docs she lcal1?' asked the fisherman
anxiously, after he had turned the horses
toward shore, and upon receiving
negative, he added, " Wall, that's
blessin'. She amt calked, and thought
she might swell. Wait a minute and
I'll take We of, and the team was driven
ashore, while the writer patiently waited
in the ark.
The situation was rather novel than
otherwise, and while we were at
tempting to realize how the whale would
feel boxed the fisherman appeared in
sight around point and we were soon
transferred to boat, the box being
taken in tow.
NARROWING A WHITE WHALE.
Ye see that bay-like up yonder9n
said the oarsman, g Wall, that's the
greatest place for white whale We ever
heard of. They come in at high tide in
reg lar droves like, with porpoises and
grampuses, and swim around, fcedin' Hike
as not, then 60 out with the tide The
tide here falls about eighteen foot. more
or less, and this bays all bare at low
water"
The box was towed into the middle
of the bay, where it was anchored to
stake
AS we can't do anything till the
tide goes down." said our ocompanin,
''sposin' we go down and tackle a
whale or so. Ever do any harpoonin'9r
he asked, as he shipped the mast aud
shook out the little sail. "Wall, it's
good sport, and reckon kin give We a
taste. =
The sheet was drawn aft, and catch
ing the brisk northeast wind the little
craft laid over and bore away for the
middle of the river, where quite a sea
was running.
'sThev like to come in with the tide
somehow" said the fisherman, land
when there's west wind that works up
a big sea when the tides against the sea
they seem TO like it all the more, and
keep a-rollin' in and out as long as it
lasts. There's one now" pointing to a
white object that appeared for moment
glistening in the sun, and from which
came a puff. II guess we're goin' TO
strike 'em good ?
The mast was now unshipped, the sail
furied and the boat propelled by the
oarsman, who sat aft, while the writer
took his position at the bow, to become
initiated in the science Of white whale
fishing. The haTpoon was a slender pine
pole. about fifteen feet long, 1.-THE and
willowy, the spear being of steel and
having two points. with incurved barbs,
that worked on a hinge and set into a
notch, so that little resistance was Of
fered when a victim was struck, the
barbs only turning out when an attempt
was made to withdraw the weapon.
The spear fitted on to the pole by q
socket, and was in turn made fast to q
long line that was carefully coiled up In
tub in the bow
= Now, then, said the fisherman, as
| the amateur took the harp0on and as
surned professional attitude cribbed
from the /. Whaler's Own Book. -
| kin put ne within ten foot, most likely
and re wart to take him right abaft the
blouhole i ye kin. that seems to settle
en- about = quick j. anything
4*#&& - N I'll -