The sun., 1897-06-06
WHALES ATTHE AQUARIUM
TWO YOUNG ONES FROM TEE ST LAW
RENCE GULF BROUGHT IN.


Tears-They VIII Ne on Exhibition To-day.
Not for many years has there been live whale
within the limits OF this city. Occasionally one
gets as noar hero as the Long Island coast
whereupon the inhabitants Of the nearest village
turn out 10 welcome 1t with open arms, har.
poons boat hooks pitchforks, spears, and axes,
and II their luck Is better than the whales they
eventually turn that too venturesomo cetaoean
Into oil and corset material. There have been
dead whales here, notably one that for period
last year dwelt In body on an East Rivcr pier,
but its spirit wandered far and wide upon tho
wings Of the wind, whereupon the Health Board
held meeting and their noses simultaneously
and passed resolutions. in consequence Of which
tho remains Of tho whale remained no longer.
Since then New York has had no whales alive or
dead until yesterday morning.
Two Of them arrived them and are now safely
duartered in the big 3s-foot tank of the
Aquarium. They arc very much alive at present,
and tho Aquarium people hope and expect that
they will remain 30 for many months, although
they are likely to have developed land sickness
from their long journey across the country, as
they came by rail. Ono. tho larger OF tho two,
Is female She is of croam-white color, Is
about 1oio feet long. and weighs probably 500
pounds. Her companion, male, Is Q feet long,
weighs perhaps 900 pounds, and 10 q dirty ash
color. Both arc belugo or white whales. their
scientific name being BeiuDu Borentfs, q species
common along tho Atlantic coast north Of hero.
They are not tho first of tho species brought
alive to this city but as far as the people at the
Aquarium can tell they are tho only ones brought
hcro in twenty five years.
When the Aquarium was designed provisions
were made for largo central tank big enough
to accommodate whale should the city be ablo
to acquire ono. Since tho completion OF tho
building DR.. Bean, the Superintendent, has been
looking out for q chance to get one OF these
cetaceans, and in April an arrangement was
made with Prof. II. d. Buuer Of Brooklyn
pert on cetaceans to provide two specimens.
Prof. Butler went to Riviere 0uelle on the south
shore Of the st. Lawrence River, Just at tho
mouth Of the Gulf, where he knew that the
white whales come In after sardines and herring.
and made arrangements with the railroads for
transporting the prey whom captured. That
there would be successful capture he had not
the slightest doubt. 1t was too early for whales
then, he found. so he returned to his homo and
on May IT started back again.
In a small place near Riviree Ouelle lived
French Canadian named Tetu, who had cap
tured whales years before, as Prof. Butler know.
and 1t was to his house that tho collector went
first. only to find that Tetu had gone to Quebec.
Being unable to reach him by telegraph Prof.
Butler sent this message by wire to tho fisheries
company at Riviere Ouelle.
"will you catch and deliver alive to mo two
whalesT'
The answer came back:
YES. Where can We meet to negotiate as to
pricef''
This without delay. In spite Of the fact that
live whales are a commodity very little dealt in.
terviewed M the whale catchers. In 6fteen min.
utes contract was drawn up. and all that re-
mained was to await the arrival OF the un-
conscious marine parties to the contract, Her
ring and sardine had been running we'll, SO 1t
was reasonably certain that the beluga whales.
the mouth OF the river In considerable numbers.
Just of the shore, where the buildings stand Is
Is bsre at Mere Wss set I the whale trap
line of slender poles driven into tho bottom
and extending above ,v;s1 water ,,a6 about .. ten
ing ing at right ansles from the shore. and
coming around parallel to the shore Just beyond
again toward tic land and reaching as far as the
channel. Thus there was left. beyond the sand
ah Of e
with one rush could sweep down whole line Of
them. but upon the timid nature OF the beluga,
which becomes alarmed at seeing the poles
gently waving in the current and SHES away
Into the channel next to the shore the sardines
were in the habit OF running at high water. and
them III" up. For several days after Prot Buffers
arrival there was high wind which kept the
prey of: but on Sunday thirteen big fellows,
pursued flying school of sardines up the chan
mel. ran close to the line Of poles, swerved of.
the the sand bar and the wavering Gordon. All that
now remained to be guarded against was the
e Ise %
put out in boats. splashing the water TO frighten
the whales. TO whom It never occurred to rush
the boats. any more than 1t had occurred to rush
the poles.
"fil have my pick of thirteen, said Prof. But
Ter. .rub bbinR his hands with glee. "There's a
I'VE haven't got EN- yet" said the chief fish
erman. when they're high and dry, IL they
get so, then you can have your pick
II they get sol How are they going to get
This wind has piled up the tide. Therell be
four to six feet OF weter on that bar at low tide
haul T one Of EN- in By the tail !" replied tho dsh.
no, said Prot. Butler, thoushttully. I'D
As the fisherman had predicted the water did
not fall low enough. Lest the whales should
escape the men put out In boats and harpooned
1T was one Of the most stirring sights have
| ever seen," said Prof. Butler in telling OF his
trip. "Some OF the whales would throw them
selves clear out Of water when they were struck.
and the men had to be lively to keep their boats
Then tho white belly would turn up with hardly
chief and only mourneri for some of them were
beauties"
disappointment was followed by success. On
Wednesday Prof Butler saw two belugas enter
| the channel and whirl around into the trap;
This time low tide left them stranded. and
twelve men carried the wooden[boxes. which had
been prepared to the spot where the pair lay
| Each box was open at the top and at the end,
| where the whales tail was to lie. and seaweed
was laid In the bottom. There was about two
| feet of water around the first whale when tho
mon slid the box, open side toward 1t. close up,
than Timing IN hiQ fellow that a
would rest properly in the box. rolled the whale
| over into the sea-weeded nest There was no
| struggle at all. The animal seemed to recognize
Its helpessness and made no effort to strike out
| with its formidable tail The other was captured
| with equal ease, both were packed In wi sea-
| weed, and within twenty minutes after the men
| started the boxes were ready for transportation.
| The whales came on by express on Thursday.
arriving here yesterday morning. and Prof But
| Ter came with them In the express car all the
way. The only treatment they had was an oc-
| which the whale breaths, with a wet sponge.
| At tho Aquarium all was In readiness for the
| reception Of the eagerly expected additions to
| the live stock. The boxes were lowered into