No. 2.] THE WHALE OF THE ST. LAWRENCE. 205 



found its way up the St. Lawrence till nearly opposite the village 

 of Montreal, where it continued to play itself for several days^ 

 not being able, from the shallowness of the water, to navigate its 

 way down the river. Having attracted the notice of" the inhabi- 

 tants, several enterprising individuals put off in boats with some 

 whale-fishing materials in pursuit of it ; and at last after nearly 

 a week's exertion it was harpooned by Captain Brush of the Tow 

 steamboat. It was immediately dragged ashore, and exhibited in 

 a booth fitted up lor the purpose, for the gratification of the in- 

 habitants. It was found to measure forty-two feet eight inches 

 in length, six feet across the back, and seven feet deep. It has 

 since been conveyed to Three Rivers and Quebec for the same 

 purpose." 



Early in August of this year (1871) two whales were seen 

 sporting on the shores of the Gulf, and a Mr. Chabot. and an 

 Englishman, who claim to have invented a gun harpoon (on Capt.. 

 Manby's principle), brought their gun to the shore and discharged 

 the harpoon. As the whale instantly disappeared, and as the 

 rope returned to the shore without the harpoon, they were under 

 the impression that the whale had been struck. Some days after- 

 wards, the government steamer ' Druid ' being down the North 

 Channel, saw something on the beach at St. Joachim, which they 

 thought at first was a boat, but on nearer approach it was dis- 

 covered to be a whale. Ropes were attached to the jaw and tail^ 

 and the huge animal was towed to the Police Wharf at Quebec, 

 where for a few days it was visited by thousands, but becoming 

 extremely offensive, and the weather being very hot, the Mayor 

 very properly ordered it to be removed. It was sold by auction, 

 and purchased by Mr. Gregor}' for $2G0, and was then towed to 

 ' Patrick's Hole,' close to tlie Church of St. Laurent, where 

 Wolfe's army first landed, and there beached and preparations 

 made for fiecliing it. 



I had not an o])portunity of seeing it at Quebec, but through 

 the politeness of Mr. Gregory, who gave me a passage, I had the 

 satisfaction of seeing it at ' Patrick's Hole.' On approaching the 

 beach we saw a number of the inhabitants around it, and on our 

 nearer approach, our nostrils informed us that it was not the 

 Guard's bouquet which made- all the women have their handker- 

 chiefs at their noses ! 



I was not prepared to find so huge an animal. It was supposed 

 that the two whales had been a female and its calf, and I was in- 



