44 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF ] 



times drifting about for a chance shot, or paddling quietly if ia calm weather, 

 and when a breeze comes sailing after the animal. When the whale is judged 

 to be ten fathoms off, the gunner sights eighteen inches below its back ; if 

 fifteen fathoms, eight or ten inches below; if eighteen or twenty fathoms dis- 

 tant the gun is pointed at the top of the back. Twenty fathoms is considered 

 a long range, as there is constantly more or less motion to the boat. 



Gruner's gun, as a general thing, has not been brought into successful use 

 among American whalemen, except for this peculiar species of whale, along 

 this coast, where much of the time the water is quite smooth — during the 

 winter months. It has been used of late with great success, the harpoon be- 

 ing so effective a weapon as often to give the whale a death-wound, and in 

 some instances killing instantly. 



Still another strategic plan has been practised with successful results, 

 called " whaling along the breakers." Mention has been made of one pro- 

 minent habit of these periodical visitors to the coast, evidently taking great 

 delight in playing their uncouth gambols through or along the breakers that 

 front the mouths of the lagoons. This the watchful eye of the whaler was 

 quick to see could be turned to his advantage and to the destruction of this 

 interesting marine animal, when exhibiting its natural habits. They will 

 pass through the surf where there is scarcely water to float them, and fre- 

 quently are seen along the edge of the breakers, and in making their passage 

 north and south they follow along the outlying shoals as they once did along 

 the kelp. 



After years of pursuit by waylaying them around the beds of kelp, the wary 

 animals learned to shun those points of death, and seemingly made a wide 

 deviation in their course to enjoy the sport among the rollers of the lagoons' 

 mouths, as they passed them either way. But the civilized whaler, their 

 greatest enemy, ever ready to destroy for gain, anchors his boats as near the 

 roaring surf as safety will permit, and the unwary "fish" that comes in reach 

 of the deadly harpoon, or bomb, is very sure to pay the penalty with its life. 

 If the whale comes within darting distance, he is harpooned, and as they al- 

 most invariably run " off shore " they are soon in clear deep water, where 

 the pursuer makes his capture with comparative ease; or, if passing within 

 range of the bomb gun, one of the explosive missiles is planted into its side. 

 This usually so paralyzes the animal that the first boat's crew, who have been 

 resting at anchor, taking to their oars, soon overtakes the wounded animal, 

 which is fastened to and despatched in a summary manner. 



The casualties occurring in connection with the coast and kelp whaling are 

 nothing to be compared with the accidents that have been experienced by 

 those engaged in taking them in the lagoons. Hardly a day passes but that 

 there is upsetting or staving of boats, the crews receiving bruises, cuts, and 

 in many instances having limbs broken, and repeated accidents have hap- 

 pened where men have been instantly killed or received mortal injury. The 

 reasons of the increased dangers in lagoon-whaling are, first, the sandy bot- 

 tom being continually stirred by the strong currents mixing with the water, 

 making it difficult to see an object to any considerable depth ; the quick and 

 deviating movements of the animal, and its unusual sagacity. When a whale 

 is struck at sea there is generally but little difficulty in keeping clear. When 

 it is first irritated by the wound of the harpoon, it endeavors to escape by 

 "running," or descends to the depths below, taking out more or less line in 

 its course, the direction of which and the movements of the boat indicate the 

 whereabouts of the animal. The clear water likewise renders an object visi- 

 ble a considerable distance below the surface, so that in any event the careful 

 " boat-header" has comparatively but little difficulty in keeping clear of the 

 whale when first struck. 



But in a lagoon the object of pursuit is in narrow passages, where fre- 

 quently there is a swift tide, and the turbid water precludes seeing far be- 

 neath the boat. Should the chase happen to be made ivitli. the current, if the 



[April, 



