s 



264 MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 



shots with the bomb -lance gun, one of whom we personally knew to be unequaled 

 as a marksman. There seemed to be but one way to successfully capture these 

 prightly animals, and that was by using the bomb -lance. The officers were called 

 together, and the matter plainly set before them ; the best marksmen were 

 selected, and informed that if they could kill a whale without expending more 

 than three bomb -lances, our supply was ample to insure a "full ship." They 

 were then directed to place their boats on the side of the narrowest channel in 

 the lagoon, near where the whales passed, but in shallow water, so that they 

 could not possibly reach the boat, and there wait until one would come within 

 gunshot. The idea was a novel one, and to old whalemen it seemed impracticable. 

 Three boats were at once dispatched — two prepared for shooting, and the third as 

 a relief boat in case of emergency. They took their positions as ordered, and it 

 was not long before three whales had been "bombed" — the third one was killed 

 instantly and secured. On returning to the vessel, the officers reported their good 

 luck ; and on the following day they were again dispatclied, but with instructions 

 to first board the tender, and take a look from her mast-head for the whales that 

 had been bombed the day previous, as we confidently expected that either one, or 

 both, would be found dead not far from where they were shot. It was a pleasant 

 surprise to the chief officer, when, on going half-way up the tender's rigging, both 

 whales were seen floating dead near the head of the lagoon ; and no time was 

 lost in securing them. 



From that time, whaling was prosecuted without serious interruption. When- 

 ever a whale was wanted, one or two boats were sent off, and it was not long 

 before the reports of the guns would be heard, which heralded a capture, without 

 the staving of boats or injury to the men. The try- works were incessantly kept 

 going— with the exception of a day, now and then, when it became necessary to 

 "cool down," in order to stow away the oil and clear the decks — until the last 

 cask was filled. Nor did we stop then; for one side of the after -cabin was 

 turned into a bread -locker, and the empty bread -casks filled with oil; and the 

 mincing -tubs were fitted with heads, and filled, as well as the coolers and deck- 

 pots; and, last of all, the try-pots were cooled, and filled as full of oil as it was 

 thought they could hold without slopping over in a rough sea. Both vessels 

 having been literally crammed with oil, a few days were spent in cleaning and 

 washing ship, and getting ready for sea. Our supply of fresh water was becoming 

 reduced; but as it was only about fifty miles from the lagoon to the watering- 

 place on Cerros Island, and having in former voyages obtained fresh water at 

 Magdalena Bay, by digging wells in the sand -beaches, a few yards from high -water 



