58 



FISHERMEN'S O WN BOOK, 



Schooner Sultana Towed by a Whale. 



On the i6th of December, 1874, while schooner Sultana^ Capt. Peterson, 

 of this port, was at anchor on Grand Bank, there was a sudden motion 

 felt by those on board the vessel, and it was evident that the craft was being 

 carried through the water by some unseen and unknown motive power. 

 Looking forward, it was observed that the cable was drawn taut, and that 

 some " monster of the deep " was attached thereto, and drawing the vessel 

 along at the rate of twelve knots an hour. Soon they, obtained positive 

 evidence, as a mammoth whale came to the surface to blow, having the an- 

 chor of the vessel either hooked into his jaw or blow-hole. There was also 

 another whale which swam near, evidently greatly astonished at the predic- 

 ament of his companion. The men on board of the dories, which had just 

 returned from visiting their trawls, had barely time to make fast their painter 

 ere the vessel started. Another dory, with two men, was at some distance, 

 also visiting their trawls. The captain stood ready with axe in hand, in 

 case of emergency, and allowed the whale to tow them some distance ; but 

 not wishing to lose sight of the men in the dory, was obliged to cut the ca- 

 ble — otherwise he might have succeeded in capturing the whale. Whether 

 or not his whaleship succeeded in getting rid of the anchor and tow-line is 

 not known, as no account has yet come to hand of his being fallen in with. 

 It was rather a novel method of being towed. We have heard of but one 

 similar instance among the fishing fleet — that of sch. C. H. Price being towed 

 by a whale a day and a half, some nine years ago, while on Grand Bank, 

 when the fluke of the anchor broke and she was released. The above 

 spirited picture gives a good idea of the Sultana in tow. It was drawn by 

 Rory McDonald, steward of the vessel. 



