﻿74 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 78 



and the latter somewhat less. Each of the three small steamers used 

 leaves the shore station and cruises usually to a distance from the 

 coast of 50 miles, remaining out either until a whale is secured or 

 until the fuel supply needs replenishing" — a matter of some three 

 days. If a whale indicates that it is wary, it is hetter to waste no 

 time on it, for with the finback's maximum speed of better than 

 30 miles per hour it can play with its pursuer in an exasperating 

 manner ; but a close approach may usually be made, by cautious 

 maneuvering, permitting a shot at less than 40 yards. If the bomb 



Fn;. 82. — The rare California gray whale being hauled up the slip. Note 

 where sharks have bitten great pieces of blubber from in front of the flukes 

 and also mutilated the latter after the death of the whale. (Photograph by 

 L. M. Huey.) 



fails to explode or the harpoon, weighing somewhat less than 150 

 pounds, is placed too far back, a fight of several hours may ensue. 

 The cetacean may take out a mile of cable and must be as carefully- 

 played as a game fish, for although the line consists of a five-inch 

 (in circumference) manila hawser with breaking strength of 18,500 

 pounds, the animal will snap this with ease if too much strain be 

 applied or too much slack ])e given. When brought close alongside 

 it is inflated with air and then may be marked with a flag and left 

 to float while the vessel continues hunting for some time. 



Upon reaching the station in tow of the vessel, a cable is attached 

 to the tail and the carcass is hauled by steam power up the " slip " 



