CHAPTER IX 



THE CHASE OF THE BLUE WHALE 



On reaching the whale factory of St. Lawrence, on 15th 

 August, I found the most perfect plant for the manufacture of 

 whale products. Even the land about the buildings had been 

 dressed with whale-guano, and was growing a crop of hay 

 that any English farmer might have envied. St. Lawrence 

 is an up-to-date whale factory under the immediate super- 

 vision of Dr. Rismulier, the German-American scientist, who 

 has done more for whaling and the use of whale products 

 than any other living man. To him is owed the utilisation 

 of every part of the whale, including the flesh, the blood and 

 liver, and parts of the skin which were only regarded as 

 wastage a few years ago. 



The cost of building and running a whale factory is very 

 great. The outlay on the buildings, engines, steamer and 

 appurtenances, and boiling houses cost from ^8000 to 

 ^10,000; labour and coal for one season, ^800 — so that a 

 good supply of whales is necessary to make the business 

 pay. In addition to this the Government charges an annual 

 licence of ;^300 per factory. 



The manager told me that they had not killed a Blue 

 Whale (Sulphur-Bottom) since May, and that my chance of 

 seeing one was most remote, even if the fog lifted. The 

 hunting steamer was to leave in the evening for a cruise, and 

 might be away for any time from one to six days, so I made 

 a few preparations, and went aboard as the sun was setting. 



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