The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-10-28
SHOOTING WHITE WHALES.
A NOVEL AND EXCITING SPORT IN
THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE.

Going Out on a Schooner and wait
ing, Rifle In Hand, for a Shot at
the Monsters.
Every other man about Chaleurs, says
letter from that place to a New York
paper, is fisherman, and those who are
not fishermen are in the fsh-curing 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 st.
Lawrence in as trim and neat a fore and
after as 1t was ever my good fortune to
meet. Every thing had been planned
beforehand, and, after thirty mile run,
the schooner rounded to off rocky
point, and boat appearing, we took
her, and were soon landed in the cabin
of famous guide and fisherman of those
parts.
"What time shall we start, Sandy7"
asked my friend.
'In about an hour" replied the fisher
man; then the tides in chock."
'I've brought no tackle, suggested.
eye don't want tackle for the white
porpus," said Sandy, with laugh.
There's the tackle for them, he con-
tinued, taking up an old-fashioned rife
and blowing down the barrel.
By the time broiled sea trout dinner
had been disposed of the tide was full,
and, following the fisherman, we went
down to the little cove before his house,
where heavy boat was jerking at its
moorings, as if anxious 10 be off. The
old man had given each of us a rifle
"They amt pretty guns, that's
fact" said Sandy, as he trimmed aft
the sail and the boat bore away, "but
they're shooters, end don't you forget
it."
"There you CO." 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 and seized his rife. The next mo-
ment round blue.white hide popped up
just off the beam. There was crash
as if cannon had exploded and the
huge form of beluga 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 whirling about in an
erratic manner, beating the water with
hOAlluN pIOWo WIN lIS
"Look out for him! "IIe's comm ~
And with blind rush the round, bullet
head struck the boat 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 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 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 bow-the water was
discolored by the blood of the beauti-
full creature. A few more blows, and it
was dead. A barrel was lashcd to it
and the boat fell away for another.
"There's your chance" said the fisher
man, as puff came hundred yards
away. eyes, that's too far, but you
can tell now just where he'll come up
second time. Pint your rifle over there"
continued the fisherman, pointing to
spot 200 feet in advance of the place
where the animal had appeared. The
sportsman followed instructions, and
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 bull
let struck the white whale in the heart.
A single leap into the air and it was
dead. The old pOrpoise shooter dropped
the oar and insisted on shaking hands.
81 &, I,,.,. L.
fore. There amt no use denyin' of it;
you never could have hit that critter eff
you hadn't" So greatness is thrust
upon some people, and as | did not shoot
again l 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-
tion was fine one. 1t was interesting
to note how accurately the fisherman
gauged the power of the animal to 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 ana
hauled upon 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 iif-
teen feet long, OF pearly blue white
color, the young being spotted or mar
bled. The beluga is quite valuable in
trade, the oil being adapted to certain
kinds of machinery, and the skin is made
into a curious kind of velvet leather.
The meat is eaten by some, and it is said
that company is forming to export it
as beef, and in reality, there is no reason
why it should not be done, The beluga