The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-07

the thousand are SWarnlng around The
northern shores OF the kingdom just
now, feeding on the migratory droves OF
herring which abound at this season.
Every day hundreds may be seen
blowing, racing. and diving around the
Shetland and Orkney Islands. while
large shoals make frequent appearances
among the Hebrides on the west, and in
the Moray Firth in the east.
Thirty a Day.
II is only IN the Shetlands, however.
that the value Of the great sea harvest
IS appreciated. and at present the whales
are being slaughtered at the rate OF
about thirty per day.
The whale fishing of the Shetland
coast has been very successful during
the past week. At RonasYoe and Dina
firth stations. the latter having four
steamers, the catch has been eleven
whales for each. Conafrth. with one
steamer. has accounted for FIVE. The
total catch for the week has been Co
whales.
It Is not by British whalers that the
operations are carried on, though
good deal Of British capital Is invested.
No fewer than four Norwegian com
panies are engaged in whale fishing at
the Shetland whaling stations, there
being two at Ronasvoe. one at Cola
firth. and one at Olnaf1rth.
Small Steamer Used.
These companies have each small
steamers. which cruise about IN search
of whales, which are all about seventy
feet in length. though there have been
several over eight feet long.
A few days ago a rare specimen Of
sperm whale, sixty feet long, was har-
pooned. its value being over 600 Last
week n Greenland whale was caught
the bone, of course, being very valu-
able.
The capture OF whales by the old
methods was attended with a great deal
of danger, trouble. and failure. They
are no longer pitted against numbering
whalers, frail boats, and human har-
poOners. Steamers somewhat bigger
than trawlers and of good speed are
used in this work.
When a whale is sighted from the
crows nest dangling on the foremost.
the whaler is itself directed for IL, and
steams carefully 20 within twenty 70
thirty yards of its prey-as near, Indeed
as it can get without causing alarm.
Whale Cannon.
II is no longer a matter Of dexter
ously handled boat and a powerful.
strongly nerved harpeoner. for In the
mounted on q wooden stock. and fred
like a pistol by trigger trained on
swivel
Into this the harpoon is loaded. with a
small charge sufncient 70 lodge Il IN the
whales body. The harpoon Is a pom
derous weapon Of about 800 to 900 pounds.
The rope moves freely along the shaft,
and the head IS composed OF four barbs.
which lie folded back till the fish is
struck and a strain IS put upon them.
when each barb extends fourteen inches
and grips fast.
Of the harpoon is a-small shell. or gren-
ade, which explodes on impact, and. IL
the fish has been struck IN a vital part,
say. just behind the fin, kills It
If the result has not been fatal 20 the
whale. OF course the line is paid out.
then made fast. the whale being allow
ed e tow the ship until u gives up, eX-
hausted, when Il Is easily approached
and dispatched
Carcass Pumped Full of Air.
Immediately it is dead. a hollow lance
IS passed deep into the lower part Of the
body. and through a flexible tube at
.ached 20 the shaft air Is rapidly pump
ed into the carcass. thereby enabling IL
u float easily and also preventing TO q
certain extent decomposition. When IL
Is sufficiently inflated the lance is with
Drawn and the aperture plugged
II no other possible capture Is within
sight the ship makes for the station or
land at full speed. There the carcass
IS hauled ashore TO a large platform,
where the blubber is stripped or and
melted down into oil.
Attached 70 each station Is also
manure factory. in which the offal and
stripped carcass must be disposed Of
As the romance OF whaling has dis
appeared before steam and gunpOwdcr
so have its dangers. An accident Is
now almost unknown. save when. as
has happened, an Infatuated whale
rams a steamer and slaves in some
plates.