358 LABRADOR 



the sperm is fish, and any flesh it can catch, especially 

 large cephalopods. It is said that out of the stomach of 

 one cachalot, thirteen porpoises and fourteen seals were cut. 



The usual food of the whale is the octopus, or giant squid, 

 which flourishes in deep water off the Labrador. An octopus 

 arm no less than twenty-seven leet long was reported as 

 taken from the mouth of a captured cachalot. Even the 

 white whale falls victim to this most masterful animal 

 in the sea. The sperm whales travel in schools, the boys 

 and girls in separate companies, and each in charge of one 

 or two old folk. The big bulls maintain an absolute pro- 

 prietary right to the harem until deposed by some able 

 and aspiring youngster. 



The narwhale, like all the others, is retiring steadily 

 before the advent of the white man, and is now seldom 

 taken on our shores, though in the north it is still occa- 

 sionally killed. Its front left canine tooth grows directly 

 forward out of its mouth, and is twisted round and round 

 itself or its fellow-tooth, making a solid ivory tusk ten feet 

 long. The fish itself is only twelve to fifteen feet long. It 

 is said to use the tusk for digging food, such as shell-fish, 

 from the mud. 



There are now two whale factories in Labrador. One 

 at L'Anse au Loup was closed for want of whales. One 

 situated at Cape Charles has been running for four years. 

 Another at Hawke's Harbour, forty miles to the north of 

 the Strait of Belle Isle, has run for two years, and kills 

 most fish. The whales apparently come from the north- 

 ward during the season. 



Hunting the whales is certainly a most exciting industry, 

 and I can imagine no more thrilling moment than when the 



