Northern Whales and Whaling. 197 



waters altogether demand that some wise regulations should be 

 adopted for their protection. 



The whales suckle their young. When first born the young whale 

 is without whalebone, and, therefore, its mouth is not equipped for 

 supplying its body with food, so that it is wholly dependent upon 

 its mother for subsistence. The maternal whale keeps close to her 

 offspring, and does not forsake it until the whalebone is grown and 

 it is able to support itself. 



A brief sketch of the modus operandi of whaling, as now carried 

 on in the northern portion of Hudson's Bay and in northern waters 

 generally, will be interesting. Many of my readers may be already 

 familiar with this, from the numerous accounts which they have read, 

 but I fancy it will be instructive to the majority. Whaling is one of 

 the most exciting vocations known to man. It is not attended with 

 as many dangers as writers have generally depicted, but with many 

 hardships, great exposure, and, of course, some risk of life. Steam 

 vessels have pretty much succeeded sailing craft in this trade, and 

 are found, for many reasons, to be very much more adapted to it ; 

 but in Hudson's Bay the sailing vessel is still used. When the ship, 

 with her crew and hunting appliances, has reached the whaling 

 waters, the " crow's nest " is fastened to the main-mast head as a 

 lookout. A " crow's nest " consists of a barrel, supplied with furs 

 and comfortables, without any top, and with its bottom arranged so 

 as to open and shut on hinges. The lookout-man ascends the 

 rigging, passes up into this nest, closes the trap after him, and, with 

 the aid of a telescope, keeps a vigilant outlook for whales. Mean- 

 while all is gotten ready on deck for* putting off in the boats when- 

 ever a monster is sighted. The lookout-man may have to endure 

 many long, weary, tedious hours before his aching eyes are gladdened 

 by a sight of the object of his watch, but as soon as he observes a 

 whale, he carefully notes its location and the direction from the 

 vessel to it. Then, opening the trap, he rapidly but quietly descends. 

 Not a word is spoken, but the man on the bridge gives the sign and 

 a boat is made ready. Six oarsmen and a helmsman are at their 

 posts. The lookout-man jumps into the boat, takes his place at the 

 swivel harpoon gun, and at once becomes the harpooner. He gives 



