Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-12-31
HUNTING THE BOWHEAD
A WHALES TEETH WORTH A FOR
TUNE IN THESE DAYS.


"There is a certain class of general
information not to be found in printed
books, and frequently the most intel
lectual person or even an extensive
traveller will surprise you by his ig-
norance on some subjects" said
seafaring man, as he sat under an
awning on the poop deck of coast
wise schooner lying at anchor in the
bay. The old salt was in talkative
mood. Cigars had just been passed
around and the jovial and weather.
beaten sailor readily acceded to the
his yarn.
Probably many of the ladies who
appear on the streets of Charleston
today attired in elegant silks and
satins," he continued, "are not aware
that the material from which their
costly clothing was manufactured
came from the teeth of the Arctic
Ocean bowhead whales, and that hun
dreds of men are every year risking
life and limb to supply the ever-in-
creasing demand for this expensive
article. Possibly you may not know
that the bowhead whales are to be
found only in the Arctic ocean and that
they are the only whales from which
the well-known whalebone is taken.
This bone is the same that was form
erly used in umbrellas and corsets
and was not until a few years back
thought to be of any special value.
A great many people think this whale
bone is the bone of the fish's body,
whereas it is only it's teeth. The
body bones are not, nor have they ever
been, used in any manner whatever.
These teeth are about fourteen feet
long at the front of the mouth, and
gradually taper back until only few
inches in length. The longest are
about eighteen inches in width and
half an inch thick, the other proper
tionately smaller. The bowhead
whales tooth is of very fine fibre so
tightly woven together as to closely
resemble solid substance. The
whale has only an upper set of teeth,
which are not used for masticating the
food. The big fish takes in great
quantities of water through its mouth
and spouts it out high in the air
through small opening on the back
close to the head. One edge of the
teeth is fringed by some three or four
inches of unwoven fibre, which serves
to strain the water as it comes
through, thus catching the small bugs
on 90 ,,,Lio ho fp,,,e,
food consists. The bowheads are the
only species that have this sort of
teeth. The teeth of all other species
are of ivory. Some ten years ago
Frenchman named Jean La Coste dis
covered that the fibre of whalebone
could be woven into a much finer
grade of silk than that of any previ-
ously put on the market Immediate
ly the price of whalebone rose to
very high figure, and is still increas-
ing every year. There are, on an
average, 1000 pounds of this bone to
whale, which brings $12 per pound
wholesale. The teeth of a single
whale are worth about $4,000. When
the teeth are taken from the whale
the carcass is cut loose from the ship
and allowed to float away. No Arctic
whalers care for the Oil; the sperm
whalers, who go down in the South
seas, supply the oil market.
"a poor sailors life is thankless
task at best, but the brave fellows who
go up in the Arctic regions and under
go the terrible sufferings and hard
ships of the frigid climate, of which
the world knows and hears nothing,
have to sing their praises themselves,
if their praises are sung at all. Whale
fishing is one of the most hazardous
occupations person can pursue and
there are probably more lives lost
every year in this industry than in any
other occupation in the world. This
is true in regard to the
South Seas, where the weather is al
ways mild and pleasant, but more
especially does it apply to the frozen
waters Of the Arctic Ocean. Going
out in small boats chasing whales fire.
quently from eight to ten hours in
weather often as cold as Is deg. be-
low zero, is not so pleasant But in
spite of all this there is certain
and subtle charm about
it that makes the life of a whaler the
most difficult thing imaginable to
swear off after once getting into it.
81 spent five years in the Arctic
Ocean and Behring Sea as third mate
aboard a whaling ship from San Fran
cisco. Just now | recall particular
ly bitter experience. One morning
about 10 o'clock, while cruising
along the coast Of the Northwest Ter
ritory we discovered school Of whale
some two or three miles off our lee
bow. Immediately all seven boats
We're lowered away. The weather was
bitterly cold, 23 deg. below zero, and
very dangerous, choppy sea had been
famed up by biting wind from the
north. After we We're out about half |
and hour the breeze Degan to increase
and the sea so high that had to take |
lown the mainsail and jib of our
whale boat and set the storm sail. |