NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 43 



generally known, and the bomb gun* coming into general use, has changed 

 the mode of capture along the coast. 



Parties of whalemen have for several years established themselves along 

 the shore at the most favorable points where the thickest beds of kelp are 

 found, and there lay in wait watching for a good chance to shoot the animals 

 as they migrate to their southern breeding grounds and return again to the 

 north.' This by whalemen is called "kelp-whaling." The first year or two 

 that this kind of whaling was pursued, many of them passed through or along 

 the edge of the kelp, giving the gunners an opportunity to choose their own 

 distance for a shot. This manner of capture, however, soon developed the 

 sagacity of these periodical visitors. At first the ordinary whale boat was 

 used, but the keen-eyed devil-fish soon found what would be the consequence 

 of getting too near the long dark-looking object, as it lay nearly motionless 

 in the kelp, only rising and falling with the rolling swell. 



A very small boat, with one man to shoot and another to scull, was then 

 used instead of the whale boat and crew ; this proved successful for a time, 

 but as season after season passed the whales worked more off shore, and at 

 the present time the boats anchor a little outside the kelp as a general rule. 

 The whale being seen approaching at a distance far enough for the experi- 

 enced gunner to judge pretty nearly where the animal will "breakwater,"' 

 near to this place the boat is sculled to await the "rising." If the whale 

 "shows a good chance," it is frequently killed instantly and sinks to the bot- 

 tom, or receives its death-wound by the bursting of the bomb-lance. Conse- 

 quently the stationary position or slow movement of the animal enables the 

 whaler to get a harpoon into it before sinking. To the harpoon a line is at- 

 tached, with a buoy at the end, which indicates the place where it lies on the 

 bottom. Usually in the course of twenty-four hours, and often in much less 

 time, the whale rises to the surface, and is then towed to the shore, the blub- 

 ber taken off, and tried out in pots set for that purpose on the beach. 



Another mode of capture along the coast is by the ships cruising a little 

 way offshore, sending the boats inshore, towards the line of kelp, and as the 

 whales pass to the southward, the boats being provided with extra large sails 

 and the whalemen taking advantage of the strong northerly winds which 

 prevail, run their boats before the wind, sailing near enough to dart the or- 

 dinary hand harpoon into the animal, getting fast this way. The whale is 

 killed in deep water, and if inclined to sink, it can usually be held up by two 

 boats, till the ship comes to them, when a large "fluke-rope" is made fast or 

 the "fin-chain" is fastened on its fins, the "cutting tackle" hooked, and the 

 whale "cut in" immediately. This manner of taking the whale is called 

 " sailing them down." 



Still another way of catching them is with Gruner's Harpoon Gun, which 

 is similar to a small swivel gun. It is of one and a half inch bore, and three 

 feet long in the barrel, and when stocked and complete weighs seventy-five 

 pounds. The harpoon, four feet and a half long, is projected with consider- 

 able accuracy to any distance under eightj^-four yards. It is mounted on the 

 bow of the boat, and was formerly fired by the boat steerer who pulls the 

 harpooner's oar. This was the old Scotch plan, the gun being first used by 

 the Scotch whalers ; but at the present time it has been more successfully 

 managed by the oflScer in charge of the boat, who takes the boat steerer's 

 place for the time. A variety of manoeuvres are practised with the boat when 

 using the harpoon gun; at times lying at anchor as in deep whaling, at other 



* The bomb gun is made of iron, stock and all. It is three feet long, the barrel of ^yhieh 

 is twenty-three inches in length ; diameter of l)ore, one and one-eighth of an inch ; 

 weight, twenty-four pounds. It shoots a bomb lance twenty-one and a half inches long, 

 and of a size to fit the bore. It is pointed at the end, with sharpened edges, in order to 

 cut its way through the fibrous fat and flesh, and is guided by three elastic feathers, 

 which are attached along the fuse tulie, folding around it when in the barrel. The gun is 

 fired from the shoulder, in the same way as a musket. 



1869.] 



