168 NEWFOUNDLAND 



" flurry." Sometimes, however, when the whale is hit too 

 far back or near and under the backbone (in which case the 

 bomb does not explode), a long and difficult chase, protracted 

 for hours, ensues. On the whole this is a fairly tame whale, 

 and not considered dangerous, if ordinary precautions are 

 observed. The value is from ;^ioo to ;^i50. 



Although not so difficult to kill as the Finback, this species 

 is possessed of greater strength and staying power than any 

 whale, and some exciting experiences have fallen to the lot 

 of the Fin-whalers engaged in its chase. The most remarkable 

 and protracted hunt on record after a whale was experienced 

 by the steamer Puma in 1903. The most exaggerated ac- 

 counts of this appeared in the American and English papers, 

 where the journalists went so far as to say that the whale 

 had towed the ship from Newfoundland to Labrador, and 

 other wild statements. The following particulars were given 

 to me by Hans Johanssen, mate of the Puma, and Captain 

 Christopherson himself, so they are, at any rate, first-hand. 



The Puma spied and "struck" a large Blue Whale, six 

 miles from Placentia, at nine o'clock in the morning. The 

 animal immediately became " wild," and it was found impos- 

 sible to get near enough to fire another harpoon into it, as 

 it came on to blow hard. For the entire day it towed the 

 steamer, with engines at half-speed astern, at a rate of six 

 knots. Towards evening a second rope was made fast to 

 the stern of the vessel and attached to the first line, now 

 " out " one mile. The steamer then put on full-speed ahead. 

 This seemed to incense the whale, which put forth all its 

 strength, and dragged the whole of the after part of the 

 vessel under water, flooding the after cabin and part of the 

 engine-room. The stern rope was immediately cut with an 

 axe and the danger averted. All through the night the 



