MODERN WHALE-HUNTING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9632, 22 March 1910, Page 7

MODERN WHALE-HUNTING.

In an interesting article ou the whaliug industry of Newfoundland, in a recent issue of "Canada," Mr F. T. Magarth gives the following acwiuut of the present methods of huutthe rorqual. the hunting of the rorqual a steamer of about 100 tons is visod, a staunch steel boat, making twelve to fourteen knots, and equipped with powerful machinery for "playing" the fish. She employs a crew of ten ineu, and has a mortar-like guv working on a swivel ou her bow. Into this is "fitted a harpoon, attached to a light but. strong rope, aud "carrying" for about 100 ft. The rorquals are not easily frightened, aud the steamer, when shw sights one. or a herd, steals slowly up to her quarry, ami when wiihiu firms range lets fly this projectile, which usual I v pierces its'way iuto the mighty ' carcass, the harpoou head baing hollow ami lilled with gnupowder, explode'! by a time fuse. This ordiuarily bursts iv the body of The huge fish", iuflictiug injuries so serious that the victim speedily dies. But occasionally the harpoou fails to strike a vital part, .or it passes through the whale's body near the tail and bursts iv the water on the other Jjtoc. Iv such cases the wounded TWiale will speed away at au amazing rate, to'viug the steamer behind as if ■only a cock-boat. There is one iustauoe recorded ot a liuce blueback towing a whaler iv this fashion for twenty-six hours, and covering some 200 miles before being weakened sufficiently to enable the vessel to approach au 1 put another shot into the creature, winch ended its activities. Instauces are more common of steamers boiug towed for teu or

twelve hours?, and there- is one c;ise

where a whaleship was tor several hours wrestling with two wonudud

whales in this way, :iud beiutr so seriously damaged that she had to so into dock aud etloct substantial ami costly rai)airs. Sho had shot oue ami

was "playing" it when another rose just under her bow, and tha whaler's captain could not resist the temptation to give this fellow Ins ouierus also. Bnt the bolt again failed to iind a fatal spot, and he was lefs with two mighty victims, each ou n live, ;iud racing swiftly hither au.l thirher over the ocean frautic with rage aud aud threatening every moment to drag the vessel bonily beneath the jNo man ever before drove such a two-horse team, aud the marvel is that auy escaped to tell the tale.

The great fear iv these cases is that the wounded whale may double back aud charge the ship, which would mean her loss with all hands, as her boiler would explode and none might escape.