Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-10


Letter from In Baie DIES Chaleurs
There are few evenings in August when IRE
is not acceptable here, yet $50 years ago. when
them the name Of Bay of Heats. The Indian
name is much to be preferred and more to the
purpose, being &c KetuGm Nemache or the bay
or sea of fish. Every other man about Chaleurs
Is o fisherman, and those who are not fisher
men are in the flsh-curing business or in some
way connected with the great industry.
The other morning, before New Workers. were
awake. found h.yself gliding down the bay
toward the Gulf of st. Lawrence In trim and
as fleet q fore-and-after as 1t was ever my good
fortune to meet. Everything had evidently
been planned beforehand, and after a thirty
mile run the schooner rounded to off a rocky
point, and q boat appearing we took her and
were soon landed In the cabin of q famous guide
and fisherman OF those parts.
what time shall we start, Sandy?" asked my
friend.
"then the tides In check"
"!'ye brought no tackle" Isuggested.
wSns for the white
for them," he continued, taking up an old.
fashioned rifle and blowing down the barrel.
the time 81 6roied sea trout dinner had
the fisherman, we went down to the little cove
before his house, where heavy boat was jerk
ing at its mOOrings as If anxious to be off, The
old man had given each OF as a rifle.
"They amt pretty guns that's q fact" said
Sandy, as he trimmed aft the sail and the boat
bore away, "but they're shooters and don't you
There you co." whispered the old man as q
strong. loud puff came over the water and q
wave. ''Steady!" and the old man let tie sheet
run and seized his rifle. The next moment q
rou h1%e,whits hide popped up Just or the
ploded, and the huge form Of q beluga rose
bodily four feet at least into the air, and fell
back with u sounding crash.
II winged him." shouted the old man. The
animal was whirling about in an cratic man
ner, beating the water with terrific blows with
"1ook out for him! he's a comin'-," aud
with blind rush the round bullet head struck
the boat sounding blow that lifted her PROV
"Gimme the sheetv' shouted the fisherman.
VINO was pushing on the oar that answered for
rudder. The passenger got the rope, and amid
out of danger, and the old man rose and sent
another bullet into the white target They're
hard TO kill II you don't fetch 'em first shot, y
ne said. Nov, 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
blood of the beautiful creature. A few more
blows and it was dead. A barrel was dashed to
"There's your chance" said the fisherman ~
pun came hundred yards away: Eyes, that's
TOO far, but you can tell now just where he'll
there" continued the fisherman, pointing to q
spot two hundred feet in advance of the place
where the animal had appeared. The sports
man followed instructions, and moment later
almost In front of the rifle rose the white head
fired, and by one OF those remarkable chances
mat come sometimes to green hands, the bullet
struck the white whale in the heart. A single
leap into the air and it was dead. The old por-
poise,shooter dropped the oar and insisted on
business before. There amt no use a denyin' of
1t; you never could have hit that critter eff 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 before the
day ended, and for O1f-hand shooting 1t must be
said that the exhibition was a fine one It was
interesting to note how accurately the fisher
man gagged the power oil the animal to remain
under water. He hit it every time, and ms own
statement that he rarely missed could be well
taken. The whales were finally taken in tow
and hauled upon the nearest beach.
The white whale, better known as the beluga
Is very common in the GulfOf st. Lawrence and
several hundred miles up the river The adults
are about fifteen feet long, of pearl bue-white
color. the young being spotted or marbled The
beiuga Is quite valuable in trade the oil being
adapted to certain kind of machinery, and the
skin is made into curious kind of leather The
meat Is eaten by some, and it is said that COM
pany Is forming to export it like beef, and in
reality there Is no reason why it should not be
done. The beluga is a milk-giving animal and
the meats good and nutritious, and not at all
fiShy.