Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1885-11-28
SHOOTING WHITE WHALES.
A NOVEL AND ExCITIEG SPORT IN
THE GULF OF ST. LAwEEHCE.
Joins Out on = Schooner aud ait
ing, Rifle I'm Hand. for a shot at


the Monsters.
Every other man about Chaleurs, saws
a letter from that place TO a New York
paper. is q fisherman, and those VINO Are
not fishermen are in the tish-caring bust
ness, or in some way connected with the
great industry.
The other morning. before New York
ers were awake. / found myself gliding
down the bay toward the Gulf Of It.
Lawrence in as trim and neat a fore-and-
after as it was ever my good fortune to
meet. Every thing had been planned
beforehand, and, after a tL.rty-nile rln,
the schooner rounded TO OF a rocky
! point, and a boat appearing, We took
her, and were soon landed in the cabin
OF a famous guide and fisherman of those
parts.
A''What time shall we start, Sandy"
asked my friend.
''In about an hour" replied the fisher
man then the tides in chock."
1--WE brought no tackle" | suggested.
aye don't want tackle forfthe' white
porpus,' said Sand, with "a laugh.
There's the tackle for them, . he con-
timed, taking up an old fashioned rife
an blowing down the barrel.
DN lIt lIllIC d bIOtith 6Cd IlOut hlIihCi
had been disposed Of the tide was full,
and, following the fisherman, we went
down to the little cove before his house,
where a heavy boat vas jerking at its
mornings. as if anxious TO be off. The
old man had gwen each of US a rife.
They amt pretty guns, that's a
fact" saia SANDY, as he trimmed aft
the sail and the boat bore away, but
they're shooters, "nd don't you forget
it."
"There you co." whispered, the old
man, as a strong, loud puff came over
the water, and a faint cloud Of spray
driiteI from the crest Of q wave.
":>:cad g and the old man let the sheet
run and s.zad rs rifle. The next mo-
ment d round - ue white hide popped up
Just OF The beam. There was a crash
huge form OF ID heIuga rose bodily four
feet at least IN the air, and fell back with
a sounding crash.
81 winged him." shouted the old man.
The animal was whlrling about in an
erratic manner, beating the water with
terrific blows with its powerful tail.
"Look out for him. "He's 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 fisher
man, who was pushing on the oar that
answered for a rudder. The passenger
got the rope, and amid the spray from
the dying whale the boat not 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 first shot" he said. Now you pull
up and I'll give him the lance"
The whale was still making the water
foam when the PROV OF the boat ran
alongside. A quick biow-the water was
discolored by the blood Of the beauti-
full creature. A few more blows, and it
was dead. A barrel was lashed to it
and the boat fell away for another.
There's your chance" said the fisher.
man, as a puff came o hundred yards
away. Eyes, that's too far, but you
can tell now just where he'll come up q
second time. Pint your rifle over there, y
continued the fisherman, pointing to a
spot 200 feet IN advance of the place
where the animal had appeared. The
sportsman followed Instructions, and a
moment later, almost in front of the
rife, rose the white head. | fred, and
by one of those remarkable chances that
come sometimes to green hands the bull
let struck the white whale n the heart.
A single leap into the air and it was
dead. The old ~porpoise shooter dropped
the oar and insisted on shaking hands.
wall, you've been at this business be;
fore. There amt no use y denyin Of 1t
you never could have hit that crltter ei
you hadn't" SO greatness is thrust
upon some people, and as | did not shoot
again ] came away with a 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 exhibi.
ton was a fine one. 1t was interesting
to note how accurately the fisherman
gagged the power of the alilual 10 re
main under water. He hit it every time,
and his own statement that he rarely
missed could well be taken. The whales
were finally taken back in tow and
hauled upon the nearest beach.
The white whale, better known as the
, beluga, is very common IN the gulf O
St. Lawrence and several hundred mile.
up the river. The adults are about FL
teen feet long, of a nearly blue whltt
color, the young oelng spotted or mar
bled. The beluga IS quite vsluabie il
trade, the oil being adapted to cer5ai,
, kinds of machinery, and the skin is mad,
into a curious kind of velvet l-at4rg
L The meat is eaten by some, and il i,s,t
r that a company is forming to exporl j
! as beef, and in reality, there is no reasot
why it should not be done, The belug
Is a milk giving animal. and the meat
good and nutritious, and not at all fshy