The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-26

majority OF one, and the motion to
make it unanimous was lost in the
swamp beyond rescue.
The meeting then adjourned. De-
troit Free Press.
PORPOISE-CATCHlNG.
A Bay of Fundy Industry Monopoi,zed BY
the PassamaquOddy Indians.
Along the coast of Maine there are
several places where porpoise-catchinp
is carried on extensively. and affords
the principal means of supportI 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 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 parpoises are about
seven feet long, will girth five feet.
weigh 800 pounds and over, and WELD
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 tish'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 Gu.
in small pieces and slowly melted.
The oil is skinned into jars and
cans, and when pure is worth 80 cents
a 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 a vessel, each pair produc-
ing about One-half pint. Watch-makers
ana others using a very fine oil take it
in preference to all other, and it com
mands 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 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 few gallons of oil,
GO to the nearest market and sell it,
then crest tiil forced by necessity to
make further exertions. The por-
poise's flesh is much like pork when
cooked, and is staple article of food.
The bravery, skill and endurance
demanded of the porpoise-catcher in
their work is almost unknown to the
outside world. In the morning, when
the men are going ''perpoisin'," 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 good porpoise-
hunter and the big boys begin by going
ont with thu oyporionood man NJ
matter what the waters condition, be
it rough or smooth, if there is tril
contemplated the start is made. In
calm weather the blowing Of the por-
poise can be heard 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 a failure to make good shot,
but the fish is speared to stop his
aoundering 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 oven
the side. In still water this is easy.
but when a high sea is running the un-
dertaking is hard and dangerous.
Sharks are plenty, and their fins are
almost always visible, cutting the
water as soon as porpoise is wounded.
the blood attracting them. Mo end OF
stVl les are told of men having had
their arms bit off by the sharks while
they were reaching into the water tt
secure porpoise, but old fishermen
scof at such thing, and pay no Az
tentiOn to the dread ocean monsters
as they almost rub their noses agains-
the sides of the caoOes. Louis
Globe Democrat
Mrs. Leland Stanford'' dresses