Connecticut western news., 1889-06-05
TORTOISE CATCHING.
A Successful Harpooner Needs Courage, Skill and Endurance.
Methods of Securing the Fish
 and Trying the Blubber.

and Trying the Blubber.
 Along the coast of Maine there are several places where 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 fish ing ground, and Indian Beach, border ing 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 Passamaquoddy Indians have made practice of camping on the beach and applying themselves assiduously to porpoise harpooning 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 girt five feet, weigh 300 pounds and over, aud 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. A fat fish's blubber will weigh about 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 into small pieces and slowly melted. The oil is skinned into jars and cans, and when pure is worth 90 cents gall on. The best oil comes from the jaws of the porpoise. The jaws are hung up in the sun, and the oil drops down into ves- sel, each pair producing about one-half pint. Watchmakers and others using a very fine oil take it in preference to all other, and it commands a big price. The blubber oil gives good light, and for years was burned exclusively in the light houses along the coast
 In good season an Indian will catch nearly 200 porpoises, each yielding about three gallons of oil, but most of them fall good deal below this, as they are not over-p 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 few gallons of oil, go to the near est market and sell it, then Crest" till forced by necessity to make further ex- ertions. The porpoise's flesh is much like pork when cooked, and is staple article of food.
 The bravery, skill and endurance de- handed 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 a storm comes up while they are out, or they are unusually late coming in, there is great anxiety among those on shore It takes years of training to makea 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 DOT boise can be heard long way, and guides the Indian in the right direction. 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 swimming, and diving about the water, first on the surface and then below, the canoe is paddled as near as possible. Then, as the porpoise lifts himself to dive the gums charge is lei
 fly. There is seldom a failure to make sure shot, but the fish is speared tc stop his foundering about in the dy ing IL IS tucu lduOClt III tlc Cd
 noe by grasping the pectoral fin with one hand, sticking couple of fingers ir the blow hole, and dragging it over tho side. In still water this is easy, bu
 when a high sea is running the under
 taking is hard and dangerous.
 Sharks are plenty, and their fins ar' almost always visible, cutting the wate, as soon as porpoise is wounded, the blood attracting them. No end of storie ; are told of men having had their arm bit off by shark while they were reach ing into the water to secure porpoise
 but old fishermen scoff at such thing and pay no attention to the dread oceal monsters, as they almost rub their nose s against the sides of the canoes. -St l Louis Globe Democrat.
 Grim HumOr.
 7 It was at Tonquin. The young Coun de T., who was serving as privat l in light infantry French regiment, hat f | bis skull fraeturad bv a bullet durinu a,