Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-13
A SPORTING BUSINESS
Methods Used in Whale Hunting
threaten extinction of Industry

A SPORTING BUSINESS
Methods Used in Whale Hunting
threaten Extinction of Industry
10 the average newspaper reader
the knowledge will doubtless come as
a surprise that within the last decade
an old industry has been revived SO
wonderfully that 1t threatens its own
early extinction by its amazing sue
cess. Yet such is the case, and the
industry in question is the romantic
one OF whale hunting. Only about a
quarter of century ago 1t seemed as
II the wonderful old sporting business
had died out, or was at Its last gasp,
because the product obtained from
the whale cost too much In the get
ting, a hindrance that was fatal.
Then came the extension OF the
new enterprise to the vast southern
ocean, where 200 years ago the seal
nshers swarmed until they had exter-
minated the valuable animals they
sought. Nine years ago South Georgia
one OF the barren storm-swept isles
in the heart of the southern ocean,
about 500 miles, east Of Cape Horn,
was found to be q noted haunt OF
whales, and whale fishery was es-
tablished there. In 1911 nineteen OF
the small whaling vessels operating
there, slew and brought in 1000
whales, yielding 100000 barrels OF
oil, or $4,000 tons of this much-desir-
ed substance. This was nearly hfty
per cent more whales than the totai
number caught the year in the north
ern hemisphere. ~
II must, however, be remembered
that this record is only for South
georgia. y In the South Shetlands S,-
500 whales were killed in the same
period, yielding 100000 barrels, and
around the coasts of south Africa ~
whalers caught 1000 whales, yielding
l2O, 900 barrels. Altogether the total
catch Of whales by the southern whai-
ing companies for the season OF 1911
was about 1880, representing gross
value of $i,750, ,000. The total yield OK
oil from the whole ocean, excluding
the trivial amounts returnable from
the old fashioned ships still working
from Dundee, New Bedford, and San
Francisco, amounts to between two
and one half and two and three quar-
ter millions sterling. The total num-
ber of whales killed and utilized was
about $4,000, which is nearly twice as
large as the season preceding.
In the old days Of the whaling In
dustry only three kinds Of whales
were catchable, the right or Green
land whale, the sperm whale and the
humpback whale, the latter only un-
der certain well understood condf-
lions. BY the new system any and
every whale that comes within shot
Is prey. 1t is equally easy to kill and
tow In sulphur bottom as 1t is a
right whale for its disability Of sink
ing when dead, it's agility and speed
and paucity Of blubber avail nothing
against the irresistible attack Of the
new whaler. The latter difficulty,
which was once the greatest of ail--
for why should one risk the loss OF
boats and gear over creature whose
yield was trivial-is entirely pushed
away by the practice Of utilizing ev-
cry detail Of the whales makeup
commercially. OIL, meat, meat-juice,
cattle food, fertilizer, whalebone-all
is commercially valuable, whereas In
the old days the whaler could only
count upon oil and whalebone, and
only upon the latter In few and re-
stricted cases. ID @
Now, 1t will be noticed that have
so far, remembering the limitations
of space, carefully, confined myself to
the statement Of salient facts, and
have not indicated wherein lies the
great difference between the old and
the new methods. AS briefly as can
be 1t is this: BY the old method, ex-
cept that sometimes the harpoon was
fired from a small gun in the bow OF
a boat, all the hunting was done by
hand weapons, and the sinking OF q
whale meant the loss Of that whale
Now a huge sum is used to fire har-
poon weighing 110 pounds, and also
carrying a bomb. Attached to 1t Is a
rope stout enough to haul dead
whale to the surface from whatever
depth he dies. Means to initiate him
for the purpose Of keeping him afoat
are carried, and by the scientific ar
rangements of springs and buffers all
shocks to the sturdy little steamers
are minimized. Mail.