The morning call., 1893-11-10
WHALE AND SEAL.
Something About Vessels
That Hunt Them.
Arrival of a Fleet From the North
With News of the Sea-
sons Catch.
A queer gamble is the game of whale

A queer gamble is the game of whale
catching.
AS before mentioned in THE CALL, the
"windjammers" have been coming into
port with but few whales, while numerous
steam vessels are en- route with their sides
filed to bursting with bone and oil.
The first of the steam whaler fleet, the
Belvidere. got back home yesterday, and
reported having caught seventeen whales.
The vessel has been absent since the 18th
of last December and has not made such
a very profitable trip as compared with the
Narwhal. which caught fifty-seven whales.
or the Balena with ffty-tw0. Bat the
steam whalemen looked much happier than
their brethren OF the windjammers and
have few dollars coming to Them
Whalers are everywhere now. Some are
anchored In the stream, some are al the
south docks and others Will soon join them
from the north.
The bark Cape Horn Pigeon, brig W. H.
Meyer and bark Northern Light came into
port In the afternoon. The Northern Light,
like the Stambou, brought nothing but
ballast.
On October 13. the Meyer was damaged
by heavy weather. A big sea stove in her
port forward boat, flooding the f0recastle
in lively fashion. Part of the bulwarks
had to be knocked away to permit The
vessel to free herself OF water, as seas
continually broke over her.
The Meyer brought $50 barrels OF oil and
$500 pounds of bone.
The Cape Horn Pigeon had 800 barrels
of oil and 500 pounds of bone on board.
Further reports from the Bevidere to
the Merchants Exchange Sho wed that on
October tue UnitediStates steamer Bear
was spoken. The Bear was on her wav
from ST. Georges Island to Oonalaska and
nearly every one of her crew were suffer
ing from la grippe.
The Alaska Commercial Company's
steamer Dora joined the whaling fleet
during the day. The Dora was eight and
half days from Unga, with 70 packages
of skins. 81 packages of merchandise and
" sacks of concentrates.
Agent Z. j. Meyer Of the A laska Com
mercial Company and five other paSsen-
gers came down on the Dora.
Idle whalers and sealers are everywhere
on the front. Some Of them are first-claSs
men and ship-owners are trying to help
them find employment. The sealers say
they did not make any money last season,
and what with seizure and the scheming
OF the owners of the sealing vessels they
had very little coming.
A report has been received from Japan
that the British sealer Arctic had tr0nbls
at Anama and was seized. Like the Alex
ander the Arctic ran off with four Japa-
nese in defiance to the laws of Japan.
The japanese authorities forced the YES
sci to release the Japs on board OF her,
who had not received a cent of cOmpensa-
ton for their services.
1t is not thought that the Arctic was
seized for this reason, but probably for
some infringement OF the japanese sealing
laws. She was subsequently released.
Sealers are fitting out early. and most of
the good men have already been signed in
advance.
Late last evening the whaling ship James
Arnold and the whaling bark Andrew
Hicks arrived.
The Arnold is a New Bedford whaler.
and this is her first visit to this port.
At Honolulu she shipped number of
Kanakas before starting for the Arctic.
They proved to be very fair sailors.
Unlike the Pacific Coast windjammers,
the Arnold boasts of having captured sew
enteen whales. She has stored below 100
barrels of Oil and q, 1888 pounds of bone