The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-06-15
" PoRPOISE-CATcHING.
A Bay of Fundy Industry MonopoIized by
the Passamaquoddy Indians.

A Bay of Fundy Industry MonopoIized by
the Passamaquoddy Indians:
Along the coast of Maine there are
several places whore porpoise-catching
is carried on extensively, and affords
the principal means of support for
many of the people living in those
localities. The Bay of Fundy is an
especially good fishing ground, and
Indian Beach, bordering on the waters
of the bay, is more or less occupied the
year round by whites and Indians who
do little else. For years the Passama-
quoddy Indians have made a practice
of camping on the beach and applying
themselves assiduously to porpoise-
happening and shooting. The winter
fish are the fattest and give the most
oil; that is the valuable part of the
catch. The largest porpoises are about
seven feet long, will girth five feet,
weigh 800 pounds and over, and yield
from six to seven gallons of oil. The
blubber is an inch or so thick in warm
weather, but in the winter double that.
100 pounds. The Indians do their work
in much the same way now as they did
in early years, the most primitive
methods prevailing. In trying out the
blubber the appliances are of the rudest
kind. The fires are built among
piles of stones, over which iron
pots are hung. The blubber is cut
in small pieces and slowly melted.
The oil is skinned into jars and
cans, and when pure is worth 80 cents
gallon. The best oil comes from the
jaws of the porpoise. The jaws are
hung up in the sun, and the oil drops
down into vessel, each pair produc-
ing about one-half pint. Watch-makers
and others using very fine oil take it
in preference to all other, and it COM
mands a big price. The blubber oil
gives good light, and for years was
burned exclusively in the lighthouses
along the coast.
In a good season an Indian will catch
nearly two hundred porpoises, each
yielding about three gallons of oil, but
most of them fall a good deal below
this, as they are not over-partial to
labor, and, as long as the returns of
one catch will last, will loaf around the
camp rather than go out again. The
custom is to get u few gallons of oil,
90 to the nearest market and sell it,
then crest till forced by necessity to
make further eXertions. The por-
poise's flesh is much like pork when
cooked, and is a staple article of food.
The bravery. skill and endurance
demanded of the porpoise-catchers in
their work is almost unknown to the
outside world. In the morning, when
the men are going 'porpoisin'," the
| women and children turn out to see
the canoes off. Each boat has two
men, and when storm comes up while
they are out, or they are unusually late
getting in, there is great anxiety
among those on shore. 1t takes years
of training to make a good porpoise-
hunter and the big boys begin by going
| out with the experienced men. No
matter what the waters condition, be
it rough or smooth, if there is a trip
| contemplated the start is made. In
calm weather the blowing of the por-
poise can be heard a long way, and
| guides the Indian in the right direc-
ton. Shooting is the most successful
method of killing the fish. Long,
smooth-bore guns with big charges
of powder and double B shot are
used. AS the fish is floating, SWIM
ming, and diving about the water, first
on the surface and then below, the
canoe is padded as near as possible.
Then. as the porpoise lifts himself to
dive the guns charge is let fly, There
is seldom failure to make a good shot,
but the fish is speared to stop his
floundering about in the dying strug-
gle. 1t is then landed in the canoe by
grasping the pectoral fin with one
hand, sticking couple of fingers in
the blow hole, and dragging it over
the SIDE In still water this is easy,
but when high sea is running the IN
dertaking is hard and dangerous.
Sharks are plenty, and their fins are
almost always visible, cutting the
water as soon as a porpoise is wounded,
the blood attracting them. No end OF
stories are told of men having had
their arms bit off by the sharks while
they were reaching into the water to
secure a porpoise, but old fishermen
scoff at such a thing, and pay no at
tention to the dread ocean monsters,
as they almost rub their noses agains,
the sides of the canoes. st. Louis
Globe Democrat.