108 THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF THE WHITE PORPOISE, ETC. 



the mortal blows. Often, after one of these vigorous strokes, which were 

 enough to kill the largest porpoise, the spearsman might be seen, when he 

 did not strike aright, urging on the pursuit for a new contest of speed be- 

 tween his skiff and the wounded animal ; sometimes the blood which red- 

 dened the surface of the water indicated the course to be followed, and 

 sometimes the sound of the subdued breathing of this cetacean, which comes 

 to respire and throw off the air, at the top of the water, spouting up a 

 stream which descends in the form of a curve. The porpoise might break 

 through the fence of flexible poles, eighteen or twenty inches apart, but he 

 is afraid. As soon as he sees them, he returns by the way he came ; a new 

 stroke is given, but it is by a harpoon, which has a light rope attached. 

 The struggle is becoming more intense and animating, and the fisherman 

 smiles with satisfaction ; the paddle at the stern of the frail skiff is alone 

 put into requisition. It is now the turn for the boatman to display his 

 skill. The animal leaps out of the water, stops, dives and turns about in 

 every way and in all directions ; a white foam like that of a rapid rises on 

 each side of the bows, and the progress of the canoe, hitherto so swift, sud- 

 denly stops ; the animal is fatigued by his wound ; he wants to breathe, but 

 fear keeps him at the bottom of the water ; and immediately the man in the 

 bow rolls up at his knees the line which he had allowed to run out, he uses 

 it to guide the direction of his barque, which light and soft strokes of the 

 oar bring silently forward to the victim. Again he stands up, and with 

 one hand brandishes his spear, while with the other he suddenly chucks the 

 rope, thereby inflicting renewed pains ; the fish once more leaps, but this 

 time is the last, for a vigorous blow aimed at the spine, between the head 

 and neck, has effectually done for it. 



These chases sometimes last for whole hours, and there were instances of 

 this kind in 1857 and 1858. One hundred and fifty-nine porpoises were 

 taken during those two years, at Riviere Ouelle. Stakes are now used to 

 make the enclosures only at Riviere Ouelle, St. Anne's, and Isle aux 

 Coudres. But, for some years past, another method has been adopted ; 

 and, no doubt, if it had been on a more extented scale it would have yielded 

 immense profits. 



Mr. Tetu, of Riviere Ouelle, so well known for his enterprising spirit, 

 and by the distinguished consideration which he has gained by his experi- 

 ments hi the capture of the animal, the clarifying of the oil, and the employ- 

 ment of its skin in the manufacture of a leather which has no equal, has, for 

 several years past, in conjunction with other persons engaged in the same 

 commendable pursuit, adopted the system of taking the porpoise in nets, 

 near the river Saguenay. Thanks to his experiments, the oil is worth 6s. 

 a gallon, and the leather from 6s. to 10s. a pound. This oil is extremely 

 ductile, inodorous, and gives a brilliant light, only surpassed by gas. It is 

 superior to any other for the use of lighthouses, because it does not coagu- 

 late, even in the most intense cold, and its ductility renders it invaluable 

 for greasing leather, and also machinery, which it preserves from injury by 

 friction. Appreciated as such by the Great Exhibitions of Paris and London, 



