The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-10-17
TRAPPING A WHALE.

"That's what I'm a tellin' ye."
"Yes, " was the reply, las lively whales
IS ever We clapped your eyes on
The speaker was a fisherman of note of
very small town on the Island of Bic,
near the Gulf of st. Lawrence, and his
Statement that he was about to ship
whale to Europe had rather staggered
his listener.
"Why," he continued, "Ive done it
already, and it amt likely l can't do it
sgin. l kin ship anything from Goldfish
20 whale and if they foller my orders
the goods II git there ship-shape 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.
''No, amt goin' to put a sail on it and
beat over-I kin beat that all boiler. But
come along and I'll show you how the
thing is done"
A few minutes later pair of horses and
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
floated clear of the wheels, and the
launch was successfully made. The
craft might have been running mate to
Noahs 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.
@ Does she leak2' asked the fisherman
anxiously, after he had turned the horses
toward shore, and upon receiving
negative, he added, " Wall, that's a
blessin'. She amt calked, and | thought
she might swell. Wait minute and
I'll take we off, !" 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-likc up yonderl"
said the oarsman, Wall, that's the
greatest place for white whale We ever
heard of. They come in at high tide in
regular droves like, with porposes and
grampuses, and swim around, feedin' like
as not, then go out with the tide. The
tide here falls about eighteen foot, more
or less, and this bays all bare at low
Sater."
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
whale or so. Ever do any harpoonin'T'
he asked, as he shipped the mast and
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 sea
was running
''They like to come in with the tide
somehow" said the fisherman, land
when there's a west wind that works up
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 puff. 81 guess we're goin' TO
strike 'em good"
The mast was now unshipped, the sail
furled 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 harpoon was IA 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 Il
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
socket, and was in turn made fast to &
long line that was carefully coiled up il
tub in the bow.
Now, then, said the fisherman. a.
the amateur took the harpoon and as
sumed professional attitude cribbeC
from the Whaler's Own Book" -.
kin put We within ten foot, most likely
and We want to take him right abaft tn,
blowhole if ye kin; that seems to settle
'em about as quick as anything"
The writer had grained the barracuda
and pegged green turtles at fifteen o
twenty feet on the Florida reef, and
therefore, felt encouraged. For a fourtl
of mile the little boat was propelled
down stream, tossing and rolling in tn
heavy sea, when suddenly great dome
like white head appeared hardly fftee
feet away; loud puff sounded on tn
the air and faint spray for a secon
caught the sunshine. If there had bee
time the harpooner would have sue
cumbed, probably to something akin t
back fever the symptoms were there
but, rallying, the harpoon was raised an
by good luck took the ghostly creatuI
fair in the back lust az il WAS diving [