The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-05-21

ers. These are heated by steam from
the ships boilers and in due course Of
| time after the temperature has been
raised until the fat boils, leaving a res
tdue, the OIL is drawn off and placed
into the ships tanks, Each whale yields
about so barrels of oil
| The meat is also put through like.
process, only it takes a longer boil,
and results In less oil being extracted.
! The factory ships arrive at the
whaling grounds along in the early
/ part of November, and this process Is
kept up day and night until along to-
wards the last of March. From Novem-
Der until April is the best months for
whaling This Is summer, Of course,
In the Antarctic. IT Is impossible to fish
/ during the other months Of the year
because of the ice, intense cold and
storms. Hansen declared that the past
season had been one Of the most stormy
that he has known, and he has spent
more than one season in the harbor of
Conception, 500 miles or more below
Cape Horn.
| Most of the whales caught now are
what is known as the "blue" whale;
there are few of the filmed" variety
caught, but not so many in recent
years. There was time, Hansen said,
when there was plenty Of hump
backs" but they have almost entirely
dwindled out Of existence.
Is IT A HARD LlFEf
| Seven whalers. all Norwegian. made
the trip the past season. This meant
THAT there was approximately 700 men
altogether who We're employed aboard
these boats and the smaller fishing
vessels. During the winter months,
while the factory ships are discharging
their cargoes and undergoing repairs
| in Norway the smaller vessels and
their crews stay in Montevideo. In Mo-
vember, when the larger vessels go
down again, they take on crew and re-
port for the seasons work.
To the ordinary American, a large
number who have hardly seen the
water, this life is pictured in their
minds. If they ever thought of it. as a
life of hardships. And It is; it would
| be worse than that TO the average
American-they could not stand 1t.
But the Norwegians are hardy, sea-
faring people; they are a people who
have always by their adventurous
spirit, and love for the UNEMPLOYED,
been subjected to biting rains, storms,
yes, hardships galore, to the Ameri-
can way of thinking. But do they con-
slider it such? No, 1t is a profession to
them. Doubtless If young Norwegian
who had been on three whaling voy-
ages was to become disabled and forced
to remain at home he would pine
away and die. It Is IN their blood, they
think in terms of boats and Of the sea.
AN INTERESTING CHARACTER
It so developed that the reporters
friend, Hansen-he was companiona-
BILE sort, was the radio operator aboard
the Thor I. While climbing around
over the ship, down in the deck, fore
and aft, their hands became besmeared
with grease. and Hansen led the way
to his cabin on the upper deck, where
the washington process began.
The cabin, although small was
coy. Everything was neatly arranged,
everything in Its place so as to take
up as little space as possible; all in
contrast to the grease, CRIME and pun
gent odor Of whale oil on the outside.
On the wall was picture of a young
woman and two children. One was
baby, the other apparently four years
old
rs that your wife?" the reporter
asked, pointing to the picture.
Hansen's eyes frightened; 1t was
only twinkle, but the interested visi-
tor saw something that convinced him
that this Norwegian sailor, hundreds OF
miles from home, had thought many
times of that little woman and those
children since he had been away. He
need not have answered, for he had al
ready said enough.
YES" he said, that is my wife and
babies. They are waiting for me-" And
his home is in Sahdefjord, Norway.
"sAILoR HOME FROM SEA-"
He gave the reporter cigarettes from
South America, showed him pictures
of scenes in the South Georgia Is
lands, and after a while opened
small book printed in his native tongue.
1t was the Christmas edition of a
magazine, and on the cover there was
a print of an aged woman standing at
window looking out over the water,
waiting for the sailor to come home
from the sea-
How wen, thought the reporter this