New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-25
SEEKING FOR A WHALE.
New- York Scientist Tells of Condi-
ti0nS IN Newfoundland

L. P. Gratacap, curator of the department OF
mineralogy and conchology at the American
Museum of Natural History. has just returned from
n scientific tour OF Newfoundland. He left here
alone in the early part Of July. His objects were
to procure specimens of insects for w. Beuten-
muller ants for Professor w. Wheeler. fossils for
Professor r. P. Whitfield and, most important OF
all, sulphur bottomed whale. the greatest creature
that lives in the sea- He succeeded in all but the
chief object and he hopes that he will be able to
make arrangements with DR.. Rissmuller, who is
the chief proprietor in the whale industry of the
island for whale this winter. He left the island
at what is believed be the beginning Of trouble
with the United States over the Gloucester fisher
men and in the midst of an epidemic of mining
fever
The trouble with the United States is being
brought by a law of the islands Assembly.
which has also caused internal commoton. Tho
law forbds the people of the west coast from SELL
ing behring's bait to the fishermen of the United
States. who are in the habit of buying from them
the way to the fishing banks. The people of the
west coast of the island owe practically all their
prosperity to the money brought to them by the
outside fishermen. and the law is a great hardship
upon them. AS yet it has not injured the fisher
men, since the herrings have appeared in abundance
outside the three mile limit The difficulties that
may be brought upon them in the near future
threaten to be serious, and while Mr. Gratacap
was In Newfoundland EIihu Root. who has re-
Gently been appointed Secretary of State. visited
The interests of the east and west coasts of the
island are entirely different according to Mr. Grata
cap. While the people on the west coast i've
largely upon the results of their trading with the
fishermen from the United States, those on the
east depend on fishing for cod seals. salmon and
whales, either coastwise off 1.-The Labrador,
as the people call the coast of Labrador.
In discussing his trip yesterday Mr.. Gratacap
said:
The mining fever was at its height while was
in Newfoundland The mineral wealth Of the Island
few mines put into operation in most instances
wealth has again been recognized and every one is
out attempting to establish mining claims
The mines OF the island unusually rich, though
not 50 rich as some Of the mines they tell about
w the opgne at fqH 61 on aore 8@e By
1854, and have been yielding richly since, and
and zinc mines at York HaTbor on the Bay Of
Islands; found a mining engineer from New
nine for Company OF the Gned States spphits
and anthony are found in paving quantities and
on Port-a-Port Bay This meta! is very rare. The
only other miBes that I can think Of are in Cali
Land in Newfoundland may be purchased from
rights are easily obtained Really marvellous iron
mines have been found on Bell Island. in Concep-
ton Bay There is a vast quantity of granite in
Up to the present Newfoundland has continued
to be unlnhabited except along the coasts. In the
interior of the island are vast forests of fir and
country. which practically exclude the great cor
porations from the island. several great English
paper manufacturers have lately been trying to get
possession of some Of these forests. do not know
what the outcome Will be. The centre of the island
is inha bited by two great herds of caribou which
attract many hunters there in the season. Out
sders with rifles must pay SIS each to get into the
island. The lakes and streams, especially Of the
uninhabited inteUior. with trout and salmon.
The passage Of the law prohibiting the sale of
behring's as bait to foreign fishermen is really a
retaliatory move. The people of the eastern coast
Of the island not interested in the sale of bait
and angry with the United States because of
the exclusion of their cod. The Gloucester fisher
men practically supply our market. The people of
the island consequently compelled to send their
fish to the countries about the Mediterranean Sea,
where vast quantities are required. They send their
behring's mostly to the West Indies along with their
timber.
DR. Rissmuller. the man from whom hope to
get whale for the museum, is German chemist
He has DEVELOPED series of processes by which
he turns the entire whale into commercial products
He makes leather of the skin. oils the fats
fertilizer Of the waste parts and is reported to have
A herd Of female whales from which he obtains
milk daily 1t IS renorted that whale milk is ex-
trenelv rich and nutritious. It through the
kindness Of nr. Rissmuller that Palmer was able
IN make his cast of whale that was exhibited AZ
the st Louis FTpostion. The only mart Of tho
whale that want is the skeleton. While he viii
nroha hlv Jet Nc have skeleton for nothing It will
cost about S10n II mount the bones and bring them
here. The s,,'nh,'r hottor'ed whale the sort that
want IS the largest creature that dwelIs IN the
sea 1t grows from 70 to so feet long.