The White Whale. 1 3 



that a dead White Whale was found stranded on the Island of Auskerry, one 

 of the Orkneys, after a gale of easterly wind, in October, 1845. 



Belugas generally advance in line of seldom more than two or three abreast, 

 and more frequently in single file. Althougli they frequently follow the 

 whaling boats in considerable numbers and play around them almost within 

 reach of the harpoon, whalers seldom interfere with them. It is difficult to 

 strike them on account of their great activity, and if the skin is pierced, it is 

 so tender that the barbs generally draw out. Moreover, when the animal 

 is secured, the blubber is not of sufficient value to pay. the crew for their time, 

 labour, and personal risk. 



Dr. Eae, the well-known Arctic traveller, gives in one of the earlier volumes 

 of "Land and Water" (vol. 5., p. 2G5) an interesting description of the 

 manner in which the Beluga is taken and killed in various localities. In the 

 St. Lawrence, and also the Moose River, a point of land is chosen near to 

 which the " sea-pigs " have been observed passing down stream. From this 

 point poles, barked to make them white, are stuck in the mud three or 

 four feet from each other, and extending obliquely outwards and up stream 

 for a greater or less distance, as may be required. They are then planted 

 inward and down stream for a short way. The current sets these poles 

 in motion, and the timid " porpoises," as they are locally called, being alarmed 

 by this, do not break through the open fence, but pass along its course 

 seeking for an outlet till they reach the cul-de-sac at the entrance of the 

 enclosure, and thus continue to swim about till the water falls low enough 

 to enable men to wade in and lance or shoot them. In Whale River, on 

 the East Maine Coast, they are taken wholesale by strong nets shot completely 

 across from bank to bank. As soon as they have passed up stream, these 

 nets are secured by anchors and heavy stones, and buoyed up by casks. 

 When the " porpoises " come back with the ebb-tide they find the passage 

 blocked, and, before they can recover from their bewilderment, another net, 

 previously sunk, is quickly raised and buoyed a short distance behind them. 

 Great numbers are thus enclosed. About the year 1867 the idea of using 

 fixed nets occurred to the Gulf (of St. Lawrence) Fishery Company, A net 

 with a mesh over a foot square, and composed of rope fit for the running 

 rigging of a ship was employed and was found to work well. I learn from 

 the " Montreal Witness " that the first time it was set at Point a Carillon on 

 a dark night sixteen Belugas and twenty-one sharks were meshed. They 

 must have plunged a great deal, for six others had broken through the net 

 and escaped. Such vast numbers of "white porpoises" collect in the 

 season in that part of the Gulf that fifty to a hundred may be taken on a 

 favourable night. In Hayes River, at York Factory, Hudson's Bay, the 

 Indians shoot them from stages erected on poles. In the Churchill, a fine 

 deep stream fully a mile across, none of the plans of destruction above 

 mentioned would be successful. There the "porpoises " are harpooned from 

 boats painted white, which sail amongst them, and being of the same 

 colour as themselves cause little or no alarm. A harpooner is stationed at 

 the head and stern of the boat, with a harpoon having a strong line 

 attached. The water being beautifully clear, the porpoise is easily seen and 

 often harpooned when a fathom or more below the surface. It does not 

 run far in one direction, but darts about much as a startled salmon 



