NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 45 



whale is struck, it often stops suddenly, and the speed of the boat, together 

 ■with the influence of the running water, prevents it from being kept clear, 

 notwithstanding the utmost caution and exertion to avoid accident, the boat 

 shooting against or over the animal, when it is dashing the water in every 

 direction. The whales that are given chase to have a calf with them, and 

 the mother, in her endeavors to avoid the pursuit of herself and offspring, 

 will sometimes lose sight of her calf in the thick water. Instantly she stops, 

 " sweeping" around in search of the lost one, and at such times if the boat 

 comes in contact with her, it is almost certain to be stove. Another great 

 danger is in killing the calf. At times, when the harpoon is thrown or the 

 lance darted at the mother, the calf, in its innocent gambols about the parent 

 animal, will get in the way of the weapon, and receive the wound, killing it 

 instead of the intended victim. In such cases the whale in her frenzy will 

 chase the boats, and overtaking them will overturn them with her head or 

 dash them in pieces with a stroke of her flukes. Sometimes the calf is fas- 

 tened to instead of the cow. In such instances the mother maj' have been an 

 old frequenter of the "ground," and before chased perhaps suffered from at- 

 tack, consequently is more difiicult to capture, staving the boats and escapino- 

 after repeatedly receiving wounds. One instance occurred in Magdalena La- 

 goon, in 1857, where, after several boats were stove, they being near the 

 beach, the men in those remaining afloat managed to pick up their swimmino- 

 comrades and in the meantime to run the line to the shore, hauling the calf 

 into as shallow water as would float the "dam,"' she keeping near her 

 troubled young one, giving the gunner a good chance for a shot with his 

 bomb-gun from the beach. A similar instance occurred in Scammon's La- 

 goon in 1859. 



The testimony of many officers of whaling vessels furnishes abundant proof 

 that this species of whale is possessed of unusual sagacity, and their inordi- 

 nate affection for their offspring is beyond question. Numerous contests 

 with them prove frhat after the loss of their young the enraged animal has 

 given chase to the boats, which only found security by pulling into shoal 

 water or to shore. The many mishaps that have been experienced araono- a 

 class of men that are fond of listening to tales of adventure or relating their 

 own exploits have been the sources from which many a marvellous thouoh 

 truthful tale has sprung. 



Indian Whalemen of the North-West Coast. — Indian Whaling Canoe — .Indian Whalin<^ 

 Craft — Indian Whaling. — Disposition of the Whale after Captured. — Description of the 



Eskemo Whaleboat. — Eskemo Whaling Implements. — Division of the Captured Whale. 



Closing Remarks. 



After evading the civilized whaler and his instrnments of destruction, or 

 suffering from wounds received while in their southern haunts these 

 migratory animals of both sexes begin their northern journey. 



The mother with her young, grown to half the size of maturity, but want- 

 ing in strength, make the best of their way along the shores, avoidinc/ the 

 rough sea by passing between or near the rocky islets which stud the p°oints 

 and capes. But scarcely have they quitted their southern homes before they 

 are surprised by the Indians about the Strait of Juan De Fuca, Vancouver's 

 and Queen Charlotte's Island. Like enemies in ambush, ihey glide in canoes 

 from island, bluff, or bay, rushing upon them with whoop and yell launch- 

 ing their instruments of torture into them, like hounds worryino- the last 

 life-blood from their vitals, and then trains of canoes tow the captured ones to 

 shore in triumph. The whalemen among the Indians of the north-west coast 

 are those fond of the height of adventure, and likewise of becomino- worthy 

 of the greatest consideration among their fellows. The one amono- them 

 that could boast of killing a whale formerly had the most exalted mark of 

 honor conferred upon him by a cut across his nose.* 



* This custom is no longer practiced. 



1869.] 



