The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-11-07
SHOOTING WHITE WHALES.
Novel and Very Exciting Sport In thu
Bale des Chaleurs.

Novel and Very Exciting Sport In the
Bale des Chaienrs.
There are few evenings in August
when a fire is not acceptable here,
writes La Bale des Chaleurs (Canada)
correspondent. yet $50 years ago, when
Jacques Cartier sailed into these waters.
h. gave them the name of the Bay OF
Heats. The Indian name is much to be
preferred and more to the purpose.
being Ec Ketuam Nemaehe. or the bay /
or sea of fish. Every other man about |
Chaleurs is fisherman, and those who |
are not fishermen are in the fish-curing |
business. 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 trim, and az feet & fore
and-after as it ever was my good for
tune to meet. Everything had evident
" been planned beforehand. and, after
a thirty mile run, the schooner rounded
to off rocky point, and, a boat appear
ing, we took her and was soon landed
in the cabin of famous guide and
fisherman of those parts.
What time shall we start, Sandyp"
asked my friend.
...In about an hour" replied the fish
ermah; ''then the tides in check"
I've brought no tackle" suggested
aye don't want tackle for the white
porpus,n said Sandy with a laugh.
There's the tackle for Them" he con-
! tinued taking up an old-fashioned rifle
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 cove before his house,
where heavy boat was jerking at its
moorings as if anxious to be off. The
old man had given each OF us a rife.
They amt pretty guns, that's a
4 fact" said Sandy. as he trimmed aft
the sail and the boat bore away, ''but
they are shooters, and don't you forget
| it."
There you CO." whispered the old
man, as strong, loud puff came over
the water and faint cloud OF spray
drifted from the crest of wave.
..Steady!n and the old man let the sheet
| run and seized his rifle. The next mo-
ment a round blue white hide popped
up just off the beam. There was \
crash as if cannon had exploded, and
the huge form of a beluga rose bodily
four feet at least into the air, and fell
back with a sounding crash.
sIwinged him. shouted the old man.
The animal was whirling about in an
erratic manner, beating the water ter
rifle blows with its powerful tail.
Look out for him! he's comm
- and with blind rush the round
bullet head struck the boat sounding
blow that lifted her prov above the
water.
"Gimme the Sheet" shouted the fish
erman, who was pushing the oar that
answered for a .rudder. The passenger
got the rope, and amid the spray from
the diving whale the boat shot out o.
danger, and the old man rose and SEN
another bullet into the white target
.They're hard to kill if you don't fetcl
'em first shot. he said .'Now you pull
|, up and I'll give him the lance.
t The whale was still making the waite
, foam when the prov of the boat raj
alongside A quick blow-the waite
: was discolored by the blood of the beau
l tiful creature. A few more blows, ant
? it was dead. barrel was dashed tot
Y and the boat fell away for another.
There's our chance said the fisher
r man, as a puff came a hundred yard
: away. Eyes, that's too far, but yol
!. can tell now just where he'll come up
n second time. Pint your rifle owe
a | a 81, inf
IS ing to spot two hundred feet in ad
I. vance of the place where the anims
had appeared. The sportsman followe
instructions and moment later. al
most in front Of the rife, rose the whit
:. head. l fired, and by one of thos
/ remarkable chances that can com
8 sometimes to green hands the bulle
;, struck the white whale in the heart.
IL single leap into the air and it was dead
n The old porpoise-shooter dropped tn
y oar and insisted on shaking hand
4. wall. you've been at this business bt
II fore. There amt no use in denyin' of il
u you never could have hit the critter I
< you hadn't So greatness is thru
y upon some people. and as | did NJ
l. shoot again came away with prou
~ record as an old beluga shooter
Z The others took two more whales b
u n fore the day ended and for off-han
~ shooting it must be said that the exh
u bition was fine one. 1t was interes
~; ~ ing to note how accurately the fishe
IL man gagged the power of the amin
- to remain under water. He hit it evel
Va time, and his own statement that
~ rarely missed could be well taken. tt
Nc whales were finally taken in tow an
no hauled upon the nearest beach.
The white whale, better known
e the beluga, is very common in the GU
~ of St. Lawrence and several hundr'
=, miles up the river. The ADULTS a
in about fifteen feet long, of a pear
10 blue-white color. the young bell
ho spotted or marbled. The beluga
va quite valuable in trade, the oil beir
ay adapted TO certain kinds of machiner
~ aud the skin is made into curious XIII
Ia of leather The meat is eaten by som
m and it is said that a company is formil
~ to export it like beef. and in real
- there is no reason why it should not
done. The beluga is a milk-giving al
NAL, and the meat is good and nut
tious and not at, all fishy.-M Y MI