The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-08

direction and nearly swapping the boat
Again he turned to the shelter OF the
shore ice. which was half a mile or so
from the beach.
BY this time the masters had become
so excited that they could not contain
themselves, and four Of them and took
the only steam whaeboat in the fleet
and Joined in the chase. As we skirted
the edge OF the foe | saw blow behind
point of ice. / was hampered by my
lack OF expertness in profanity to an
nounce the discovery In due and proper
words, but able assistance were at hand
and the boat was headed for the spot
knew that whale was a monster crea-
ture. but had no conception OF his size
until our boat was alongside this one,
so near that / could have reached over
and touched him. Time was too short to
mediate as We rushed past. and. as we
did so, two bombs from shoulder guns
were shot into his vitals. another har-
pooh was made fast and an explosion
OF strong words finished the job. There
was a culver all through the great hulk
of body as the mufned report of the
exploding bombs was heard. and he rolled
over dead As he writhed in agony az we
shot past his great fiukes swung through
the air only a second too late 20 wreak
vengeance on us by smashing the boat.
This was my first whale, and watched
with much interest the entire operation
from the killing 10 the Showing down" OF
the oil. Boats belonging to the ship which
first made fast hooked on to the car
cass, and towed IL out of the Ice TO the
ship Az the hours passed the great body
gradually roso out OF the water SUM
GENTLY TO show its mammoth size. Whales
always blast up" soon after being
killed. probably by tho accumulation of
gases. increasing their size third or
more In n couple OF days. This one was
one OF the largest whales Of the season
being rated at 13o-barrels size. lie pro-
duce6 nearly that number OF barrels of
oil. and about 5000 pounds OF whalebona.
which was valued that season at IS a
pound. The value OF the prize can be
readily calculated.
Hard at Work on the Carcass.
Steam whalers have no dignity to main.
tain and whenever whale Is caught
they steam TO the aid OF the whaleboats
and assist In bringing the carcass into
proper position: but wind TANNERS
maintain dignity in action. as well as in
appearance. and await in apparently
cold Indifference the efforts OF the boats
crew to top the great carcass TO their
starboard sides. When once alongside the
ship. heavy nuke chain or rope 10 run
out OF the forward hawsepipe and ae-
cured around the whales nukes The
Tfs3'F - RAANNiAA itlAhltra 10 inc nun OF
the ship, the head being "a little aft Of the
gangway. A cutting stage" extends out
from The side over the whale and Il IL
from this that the men work with their
long handled cutting spades" and "a a
EEcst ! was permitted 10 fRtter myself
that I helped IN the work
Tho captain sometimes used a spade AMI
was always at hand to supsrintend thc
cutting on % the head. The '.whale.
faora which "a M 100 49,
nically speaking. haleen. is ell IN the
head" 10y which Is meant the upper
Jaw. This vhalebone Is IN slabs about
half an inch thick. from three 70 ffteen
inches long. and Is worth about t4ss8
while the oil from the entire whale. when
all fried oat. is worth only about t0n
The operation 81 cutting ofT the great
lips is quite easy. as no bones interfere.
bat 90 remove tho head 81 81 necessary
either 20 unioint the backbone or 20 chbp
e in two Before this Is ATTEMPTED a
heavy chain IS securely fastened 20 Il. 81
that under 10 Circumstances can II rlnk
and be lost.
The biuboer Is then chopped through
and the backbone gradually severed
when nearly completed the carcass IL
terked and the last bit og bone broken.
then the head is hauled on d.ck. ono
Il ~ safely over the rail. every man
suSpends work FOR the moment ana thars
is great ,hurrah FOR 1--WE and forty
more"
The head cut OF. the rest ~ 'Ne work
Is easy. a grip is taken on --- an. and
as this is hauled M 'ro p Ser on the
body Is cut from tla Jean" "a the
flesh Is called. by means Of the cutting
spades. In a strip abou; four feet wide.
rolling the whale over and over until
the fukes are reached. When the piece
Of eiubeer. blanket piece" as IL i.
called. has reached length Of twenty 10