New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-17
PROTECT THE WHALES.
Plea for Close Season from Gun
HarpOOners.


The romance Of whaling belongs to distant
days and to the vanished glory OF New-Bedford
and Nantucket OF all that mighty fleet OF
whalers, those bluff bowed stanch craft that
sailed from New-England ports half century
ago not a dozen remain. Even the whale has
vanished. the result of the activity of these
ancient whalers, ard at the present day only a
single species, the rorqual which by its strength
and feetness was able to defy the slow going
craft of the former day. survives in any large
number. Only on the shores Of Newfoundland
and the nearby fishing grounds of the Grand
Banks are whales to be seen in large num-
bers. Even there. prey to modern methods and
modern weapons, they being slaughtered at
rapid rate that the cry has gone forth that
unless some effective method Of regulating the
killing is found and stringently enforced the
whale. like the American bison. Will vanish from
its last haunt
Moreover. there is a timeliness in the protest.
for now that the Anglo French convention has
settled the long standing grievance of the French
Shore and the local authorities of Newfound-
land are able to extend their control over this
region. Premier Bond has announced that one
of the immediate consequences will be the estab-
liskment OF four factories for the manu-
facture Of whale products thus largely increas-
ing the annual kill of whales How large this
annual kin is may be gathered from comparison
with the records OF the old style whalers. They
were counted lucky if they captured a dozen
whales in six months and yet. last year a single
boat of the Newfoundland fleet killed 2s6 and
four established a seasons record Of sos An
other OF this feet made a daily kin Of five
whales for three successive days. and the total
destruction Of whales amounted to four thou
sand.
With the passing OF the old whaers. the finer
clements OF whaling the things that gave II at
least a semblance OF sport have vanished The
ancient method entailed a cruise of a year called
for splendid seamanship. and in the final capture
of the whale furnished sport Of the most excit-
ing character. The great ocean monsters were
attacked in an open boat by harpoon and lance
Not infrequently in his fury the whale de-
siroyed the boat with one sweep of his tail or
dragged ii miles away from the ship into fog
under cover Of which the crew was separated
from the vessel forever. IN such a fight the
whale had fair chance for life. and skill and
ingenuity and courage without stint were
matched against strength.
liut all the romance OF whaling has passed:
as the trade is piled In Newfoundland II IS Sim
ply butchery, different from the old method
as a Chicago packing establishment Is from the
old buffalo hunt of the prairie. There Is no
voyage; each day the factories along the shore
torpedo boat in structure. Perhaps twenty
miles beyond tie shore rorqual is sighted and
the steamer churns alongside gunner sights
a small cannon and discharges a lance to which
is attached a long rope. AS the javelin enters
the whales head it explodes by means of a time
fuse, and the explosion sinks the prongs too
deeply to be shaken out OF course. the whale
makes brief struggle short if the shaft has
reached vital spot long if it has not but GER
tain in its end. The battle is soon OYER the
steamer puts out boat, the carcass Of the
whale is pumped full of air to prevent its sink
Ing, the boat stands by to guard the quarry and
the steamer proceeds its course Of destruc-
ton.
AT the close of the day the toat as it returns
tows several whales. the fruit Of its days hunt
Ing. and lands them at the factory wharf. In
the Ole days the whaler could use only q small
share of his victim, and trying out at sea was
a difficult task, the larger share Of the carcass
going to the sharks. but the new method renders
1t possible TO employ every portion Of the VII, C.