The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-04-12
TOO SOCIABLE A WHALE.

TOO SOCLABLE A WHALE.
Longest of all the whales, the fin
back is regarded by all mariners as
the least desirable to fall in with. He
yields no bone and very little oil, and
is seldom pursued by the whalemen
on account of his dangerous propen-
sites. He will smash more boats, run
out more line and carry off more har
poems than any other whale. But
sometimes he is found to be curious
and socially inclined. He will range
up astern or besid ship and appear
to examine the bottom. This always
causes more or less uneasiness aboard,
since but few planks intervenes be-
tween the sailor and deep. Butts
with the head or strokes with the
tail, should the whale be disposed to
give them, might cause the loss of a
vessel.
1t was in the Behring sea that one
afternoon, as the United States re-
venue steamer Corwin was forging
slowly along under sail alone, through
a long rolling swell, a flnback came
up astern. He rose and sank with
great regularity, and gained steadily
upon the ship. He presently reached
the rudder, at which he seemed to
smell; then giving loud puff or blow
he showed some fifty feet of his great
back above the surface of the water
and sank slowly, ranging as he did so
along the starboard side. He next
was seen close to her bilge slowly ris-
ing to the surface to blow. He came
up, with scarcely three feet between
him and the vessel, and the spray
from his spouting fell upon her deck.
He slowly sank again, passed beneath
he ~ -
He blew once more, settled, and again
passed beneath, accommodating his
speed to that of the ship.
1t was altogether too companion
able for those on board, many of whom
had heard of the fate of the hapless
whaleship Essex, sunk years ago by
the attack of a whale in the South
Pacific ocean. This finback seemed
to take the Corwin for a monster of
his own species with whom he wished
to scrape acquaintance, and it was
not certain what demonstration he
would next make. Officers and men
were closely watching him from the
rails, moving from side to side to view
his successive Temperatures as he
passed and repassed beneath them
Whether belligerent or merely play
full. there was an unpleasant element
of danger in his familiarity, and vari-
Gus suggestions were made for Kidding
the vessel of his company.
"Get up some rifles, Mr.. Howison,"
said the captain to the first officer, as
the whale continued his movements,
| whale is too sociable. Let's sting him
with few bullets, and see if we can't
get rid of him
Soon half a dozen sailors with
breechloaders at a ready were rang
ed along the rail eager to begin at once
the work of ballasting the tinback
with lead.
zone ball only at first, ;" commanded
the captain. Don'tpelt him so he will
go wild at once. Why, men, if he
sends that tail up among you, you are
gone; not to speak of the boats and
davits that would go with you. There
he comes; now, johnson, you fire
Hit him just abaft the blow hole, and
let's see what he'll do"
Crack went the rifle, and "sput''
went the bullet as it sunk deep in the
blubber The whale seemed not to
mind and settled as before.
"Give him two next time. Stand
by OH the other side" cried the cap
tain. There he rises Nowput them
| llUO the DlOW W d. DOue.
The anxious eyes of all on deck were
watching every motion of the whale
as his shimmering bulk came toward
the surface. At forty feet depth his
color was nearly black. AS he rose
this tint was successfully replaced by
dark green, light green, silver green,
until as he reached the surface in
swash of foam he displayed the ac-
tual dark green gray of his huge back.
"Pough!'' went the spout just be-
side the bridge, and the rifles cracked.
The whale gave a heave and went
down rapidly, edging as he did so
some 80 feet away.
"Aha, He doesn't like it? He'll
soon be up again. Stand by and give
him volley next time, and let's see
him throw HIMSELF said the captain.
Soon the monster was seen coming
to the surface, and six heavy rifles
were aimed, each marksman anxious
to beat the others. The whale was
evidently startled. and meant to go
down for IL good while the next time,
for as he came up he gave a heavy
blow preparatory to drawing a deep
breath His plans were rudely inter-
fered with.
Crash went the volley. Every bull
let seemed to take effect. Up went the
huge head for an instant, showing
some 40 feet of the body. Down it
came with splash, and into the air
went the great tail or tiukes, until over
10 feet of that end of him rose perpen-
dicular from the water. In that posi-
ton it seemed to pause an instant ere
it went straight downward into the
depths. He had got enough of the
Corwin, which had sailed miles away
from him when he reappeared at the
surface, and he did not attempt to