The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-30
SHOOTING THE WHITE
WHALE.


There are few evenings ia August
when fire is not acceptable here. vet
$50 years ago, when Jacques Cartier
sailed into these waters, he gave them
the name of Bay of Heats. The Indian
name is much 70 De preferred and more
to the purpose. being Ec Kstaa,a Ne
aiache, or the bNy or sea of fish. Every
other man about Chaleurs is a fisher
man, and those who are not fishermen
are in the fish-curing business or in
some way connected with the great in
dustrv.
The other moxning, before New
Workers were awake, | found myself
gliding down the bay toNard the Gulf
OF ST. Lawrence in trim and as fleet
fore-and-after as it was ever my good
fortune TO meet. Everything had sud-
denly been planned beforehand, and
after a thirty-mile run the schooner
rounded 10 off rocky point. and a
boat appearing. we TOOK her and were
1 soo~ landed in the cabin of famous
| spl1s snd fisherman of those parts.
! " hae time shall we start, Sandy?'
/ asked my tEeud.
Ia ABOUT a. hour" replied the fish
/ erman; ''then TIA tide in check"
gested.
''Ye don't want tackle Tor the white
porpus. said Sandy wirs a laucb.
There's the tackle for them, he con-
| tinued. taking up an old-fashionuj rifle
| aud blowing down the barrel.
By e'time q broiled sea trout din
ner had been disposed of the tide was
full, and, following the fisherman, we
went down into the little cove before
his house, where a heavy boat was
jerking at its moorings as if anxious to
DE Oft The old man had given each of
US rifle,
''They amt pretty guns, that's
fact F." said Sandy, as he trimmed aft
the sail and the boat bore away, 'but
they're shooters, and don't you forget
There you 60 whispered the old
man as a strong, loud puff came over
the water and faint cloud of spray
drifted from the crest of wave.
.'Steady" and the old man let the
sheet run aud seized his rifle. The
next moment round, blue white hide
popped up just off the beam. There
was crash as if cannon had ex-
ploded, and the huge form of beluga
IOSC bOA-8AN 4Oui lCtk Ut lGdSI lHLo lHe
air, and fell back with a sounding
crash.
Il winged him, shouted the old
man. The animal was whirling about
in an erratic manner, beating the water
with terrific blows with its powerful
tail.
Look out for himi he's a-comin -
and with a blind rush the round bullet
head struck the boat a sounding blow
that lifted her PROV above water.
Gimme the sheet!' shouted the
fisherman, who was pushing on the oar
that answered for a rudder. The pas
senger got the rope, and amid the
spray from the dying whale the boat
shot out of danger, and the old man
rose and sent another bullet into the
white target. They re hard to kill if
you don't fetch 'em the first shot" he
said. Now, you pull up and I'll give
him the lance. y
The whale was still making the
water foam when the PROV of the boat
ran alongside. A quick blow the water
was discolored bv the blood of the
beautiful creature. A few more blows
and it was dead. A barrel was dashed
to it. and the boat fell away for
another
There's your chance" said the
fisherman, as puff came a hundred
yards away. Yes, that's too far, but
you can tell now just where he'll
come up a second time. Pint your
rifle over there" continued the fisher
man, pointing TO spot two hundred
feet in advance of the place where the
animal had appeared. The sportsman
followed instructions, and a moment
later almost in front of the rifle rose
the white head. l fired, and by one of
those remarkable chances that come
sometimes to green hands the bullet
struck the white whale in the heart.
A single leap in the air and it was
dead. The old porpoise-shooter drop
ped the oar and insisted on shaking
hands. WAL, you've been at this
business before. There amt no use
denyin' of it; you never could have hit
that critter eff you H. t. ." So great
ness is thrust upon .Ie people, and,
as | did not shoot again. came away
with proud record as an old beluga-
shooter.
The others took two more whales be-
fore the day ended. and for off-hand
shooting it must be said that the ex-
hibition was fine one. 1t was in
teresting to note how accurately the
fisherman gauged the power of the
animal to remain under water. He
nit it every time, and his own state
ment that he rarely missed could be well
taken. The whales were finally taken
in town and hauled up on the nearest
beach.
The white whale, better known as
the beluga, is very common in the Gulf
of St. Lawrence, and several hundred
miles up the river. The adults are
about fifteen feet long, of a pearl blue
white color, the young being spotted or
marbled. The beluga is quite valuable
in trade, the oil being adapted to GER
tain kinds of machinery, and the SIN
is made into a curious kind of leather.
The meat is eaten by some, and it is
said that company is forming to ex-
port it like beef, and in reality there is
no reason why it should not be done.
The beluga is milk-giving animal,
and the meat is good sAd nutritious,
| and not at ali fishy.-N. y. Sun.
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