The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-10-12

but concluded to build q small inclos.
ure around the whale on the beach and
at a future time expected to securely
faSten a big hawser about tie tail Of
the fish which would hold. He set to
work and soon had the captive secure
was almost impossible, and when the
salt water of the Bay of Fundy again
reached the young whale there was
some fun for a short time. Next day
the captain came to Eastport and from
a blacksmith secured q stout iron band
to fit securely around the outer end Of
the whales tail, just back of the outer
fin.
In the band was IN eye to fasten
on q light chain, and with his newly
made collar he soon returned home,
and after some difficulty, at low tide,
had the iron band fastened around his
victim on the beach. Wien the tide
again came in part of the fence was
removed. and the chain was securely
fastened on both ends, II being in the
eye of the band, the sea monster was 4
prisoner.
"Captain Mcmillan concluded to al
low his captive into deeper water than
his cove afforded. so that the fish
might be able to look after its supply
| Of food during the day when he was
| not around. For q few days the cap
tive whale made q lively time Of it and
tried to break away from the chain,
but finally was obliged to submit, and
| after a short time devoured a quantity
Of food brought near the weir by the
owner. Many OF the island residents
came from the neighboring places to
see the captive whale on the chain, and
| Captain Mcmillan was asked why he
did not exhibit his prize at the large
| cities across the border and along the
Maine coast.
That would have been easily enough
done had the fish been dead. or small
enough to carry about in a boat, but
how could he get q forty-five-foot
whale out of the harbor in safety?
1T was not long before the big fish
began to show signs of becoming tame.
and on the approach Of meal time was
always found ready to devour the food
provided.
I'm several weeks Jim'S baby whale
had increased somewhat in length and
also became quite tame, so that when
the veteran seaman came near it in his
boat his captive would play alongside.
After two months had passed and the
fish had increased in size to be noticed,
Jim thought he had better secure a
stouter chain to hold his pet, and again
made a visit to Eastport for a longer
and heavier piece Of chain. This he
soon secured and returned to his Cana
dian home to make the change, when
he was much surprised and disappoint-
ed when he was told that the whale
had broken the chain and disappeared
into the deeper water of the Bay of
Fundy. It was quite q shock to Cap
tain Jim to find the broken chain and
lose his whale after so much expense
and trouble, but he returned to his
house and talked over the loss with his
wife.
"'Never mind. Jim. perhaps the big
fish will come back for his dinner as
usual, as I've heard Of such things,
and, you know, that wasn't no ordi-
nary whale, neither. That whale was
tame when it left these waters, and
mark me when I say that you'll see the
fish back when it's time for the grub to
be served
"The husband allowed that the whale
was certainly tame, but how was he to
again capture the big fellow if he
shouldn't return to the cove for the
customary noon meal.
"'Td better shoot the critter and be
sure Of the carcass this time; what do
you say, WHEY"
"'Don't you be too hasty, jim. but
wait for develc 3ments. as the whale
will return often. if it comes back once,
you a bet. Only wait and see.'
cat the appointed hour for feeding
his former pet Captain Mcmillan went
down to the ledge where he had stood
20 often on recent days and tossed the
food into the bay to his friend, the
whale.
He threw the bucket Of food to the
water and watched it sink below the
surface. but before the last particle
had disappeared the dark form Of 4
long, slender fish came to view, and
when the tail was exposed there was
the telltale iron ring and hanging to it
a small piece of chain.
"'That's my whale" exclaimed Jim,
as the big fish swan leisurely about
the cove and did not seem to want to
leave the small harbor when the food
was gone.
1.-THE old seaman remained on the
rocks for a long time, and was then
convinced that his wife was right
about the fish which had come back to
stay, evidently. Next day, and as fast
as meal time came. there was the tame
whale, and soon the islanders heard Of
.Jim'S lucky find. When jim went out
to gather up his lobster traps or haul
in his fishing lines and nets the whale
accompanied him, and always was re-
warded by receiving q newly caught
cod or pollock off the hooks One day
Captain Mcmillan started out OH a fish,
ing trip down the bay, and not far
from Grand Manan. n. B., a fierce gale
arose and a clustering snowStorm set
in. which promised to last for several
days.
Mrs. Mcmillan and her children
gathered Oh the beach near their homo