The Cecil Whig., 1885-05-23
Whale Fishery eff the Coast Of Norway.

There are, as well known, numerous
fisheries of cod, herring. mackereI, etc.,
off the coast of Norway, but the most
curious one is certainly that OF the whale.
This cetacean, which inhabits the polar
regions, approaches the coast Of Scandi-
navia about the month of June, in the
train of numerous small fish called 'Iod-
de, that come to the mouth Of the rivers
il order to deposit their eggs.
The whale that is fished off the coast
OF Flnmark is the blue whale, an animal
quite different from the species found in
Greenland and called the right whale.
The fishing is authorized by Norwo.
gian laws only from June to September.
1t is carried on quite near the coast. and
boat sometimes remaius but two or
three hours out of port. Thus. during
the voyage CT Oscar II. along the coast
of Finmark, three whales were cncOun-
tered between Eadso and Jacobsclv. An
other time boat from Eadso captured
one near the works established upon the
small island opposite that city, that is to
say, ten minutes distant from that port.
Whale fishing in these regions is very
ancient, as is proved by certain Norwe-
giaa legends, which relate that the giants
who Inhabited Finmarl We're of so great
size and strength that they could take
whales by the line. If they took two at
once, they attached them by the tail ard
suspended them from their "hjelders,"
as fshermen do with the cod that they
are drying.
TIE great whale fishing industry was
for long time concentrated at Nadso, a
small Finnic town of VaIangerjord. 1t
is here that are located, upon the small
islanrthat we have mentioned, the es.
adjustments of the celebrated Mr.. Foyn,
the king of the whalemen. This person,
who is still living, is a southern Nerve
gian, and was sailor in his youth.
Through his energy and intelligence he
has acquired fortune that is now reck-
oned by millions. At the epoch at which
he began whale fishing it was not custo-
mary to bring these animals to the shore
to strip them, but the fisherman who hal
taken one cut it up on the spot and lost
many Of the products. At this time only
the whalebone and faS were utilized.
Mr.. Foyn conceived the. idea Of establish
ing himself upon shore, and of sending
out small whaleboats to seek for these
marine monsters, in order to bring them
to his works, where nothing is lost, since,
after the meat and fat have been remov-
ed for making oil, the detritus and bones
are used for the manufacture Of fcrtiliz- /
ers. Mr.. Foyn may be said to have ec, .
tabiished himself under excellent condi- /
tions, seeing that the whales come as far
as to Narangerfjord, and that after few
hours fishing it is certain that one or
more will be brought it. 1t was he, more
over, who first utilized an invention that I
left far in the rear the antique harpoon i
thrown by hand from fragile boat. The
Foyn harpoon, which is a little over
three feet long, is thrown by small can
non placed in the bow of steamship, so
feet in length, with crew Of ten men. 4
This vessel, which costs between twen-
ty and twenty-five thousand dollars, has
a speed of II knots per hour. The cam
non is pivoted, and carries a sort of stock.
that permits of pointing it in every direc-
ton. A cick, whose trigger is manipu-.
lated by long cord, discharges the can
non at the moment desired. The cannon
is aimed precisely like a rifle. The ext
tremity of the barpoon is provided with
a small steel pointed bomb, which bursts
after entering the whales body. At this
moment several rods, which up to thit
time had laid along the harpoon, spread
out like the ribs of an umbrella, and pre-
vent the rod from coming out of the ami :
mails body. To the harpoon is attaohe,
long cable, which is coiled up in th
hold, and which passes over severa
brakes actuated by steam.
The one who aims (who must be a yer
cool and skillful mln) holds the butt
the gun with one hand and the cord tina
pulls the trigger with the other Whe
whale has been sighed by the watche
at the masthead, the boat advances
direction of the place where it has divet
SO as to be ready to receive it at the spt
where 1t will come to the surfac in ord
to breathe. 1t is experience alone tn
teaches one to calculate the distance til
the whale will travel between these ty
spots. In general, the whale is fired
from distance Of about 50 feet. 1t a
pears that the greatest difficulty is
strike the animal in such way that t
harpoon shall not pass through certs
part of the body, but shall be implant
therein and explode. This is why {
cannon must not be heavily loaded. 81
When the animal perceives that it
CONTINUED ON FOURTH pAGE.l