| Show The he Gray Whales Of M Magdalen Bay BayM i M mt Revived by Name of Fleets Ilia rho Ih men of ot the world have been thinking of ot o os f s Nhe tho th ca ton h of ot 1 lena buy foil on au I Iho ho coast of ot lou louft low lowe California us nil a I for tor a ft e c tot of American battleships every in of nt t those waters enters brings o 0 ho ha haIn ia iain ew tew std hi l Yankee in 11 t ot ur o u a P and sundry seafaring naturalists tho the Memory of or the Iho days when nil alt tho shelt sheltered coed ered waters of or the tho Pacific coast CO lIt ot of Mc dc Ave DInda Banda to hi the Gulf of ot Tel ut were weve sought every win winter ter tro by W b schools of ot whale literally num numbering bering thousands When as Ug buyers first and later Inter us pre peelers for tor gold sold tho the people of or orthe the d States tN wont trout to tho the coasts coast of at the Oie two n e they the observed dill dur ug ilic 1110 winter Inter marry many man toward town l the south migrating lu ing g like Ilk the tho wild fowl tol Some nine of or the tha thee is whales I Imen a t to t e 0 of t forms familiar to the tho t men who Him had Milled Hulled oil nil whale hips I I IThe The lh humpback for im In Ir nee was wn com common nun mon enough Tho Thu long and sul suI sulphur much longer and mare thou thim his brother brothel of or the Atlantic IMIS alFO and BO so too lao tuns II the file th sum and almost equally ngI l a Occasionally the double pout vt ut the common right whale above the lit di waters hut but many limp hues i numerous then all of ot these token were wIro the tho whales of nt another and ond smaller breed that because o ot of color were cle tho the t gray am In III ii s I general way It was noted that thee gray whales appeared appealed on all tho the bust In to December every ce year enl for tOI their toward tho the south louth and that the first migrants toward the tho north appeared appealed some home time In III February The Pine of fit their v visit seems to havo been heen noted first r t about the tho year Jem 1810 1816 but hut it t was ens not until after that tiny may un mayone me one in California gave tho rho matter w erl rl cur C us attention As KniP till rondet II will remember 1830 was wan one of the years of the golden CrL cra of oC American whaling ng ns 1111 well Welt as ae one of the tho ore era In gold guM In California Hun Hundreds of lit n f American n whalers t were veto IV II to lie he found every e year enl In I ti n the tho Pacific t mid aud after the lute discovery of or gold s In Cali California Cu ll fornia not u n 1 few ow of tho the o shins till WOOL went to California th the Crews row from trout captains to cooks went and hurried oft off to the tho d n DRIVEN N HACK BACK HY BY most of or these the deserter tolled foiled to 10 strike It rich at the tho nines and anti Wore were driven by b starvation tion buck back to 10 the Iha beach bench There Thara they heard tho the stories of or tho Iho whale mid anti began beean to make for o themselves They Iho oven evon counted coasted the tho schools that appeared appenrod at n certain points and 1111 according to published statements male made m le by h scone somo who were considered trustworthy In fn such lIuch matters they saw from the shore hore between tho the of ot December and Ind the tho let 1st of February a u gray glY whale a on the average every or day da daThe The southbound ns III early an nil December 1 I but the schools were few In III number rid mid widely whitely sent scat tiered before tho the middle of the tho month On the whole whale It wn estimated e that thaI during the early years aars of ot u t tho the 1 tn not fat far Co I from whales passed Hed sit within I view ot or the coast coust of or Cali forma fornia Corn In and nt at the tho limo other uncounted thousands were passing fur tur ther thel out to pen sen en The Tho number seen HEn go so Ing Ine north utter litter February was wag much smaller because at that season the tho schools commonly avoided tho the Inshore waters aters Beginning Inn in n desultory way nay some ot or the tho went hunting theo whales found that though small smaller er than humpbacks and right whales they they yielded lel lo oil all of ot good finality quality and Iti iu II quantity to make It worth worthwhile worthwhile while to pursue them them Thereupon sev several o oral eral shore whaling w stations were es ell the tho first at Monterey In 1851 1811 file captains of at that came to 10 the tho coast also learned about or 01 saw the tho migrate s The of that camo con to to the coast con t also 1 about or sow the tho rl tors torI The fhe captains naturally followed allowed down the beach h ach and on un arriving oft off the tho different bays on tho the const totted found that the mule main gray whitlow were wore herding lit it pods Just Jt 1 off oft 1114 th entrances u b to tho the sheltered waters the tho felonies were Iero w ero ell all Insl lu having ROlia there them to bring forth young Hull wholes yielded from 20 0 to 10 23 JS l of ot oil while the tho yield from tho the cows COW was Willi as IS much n nil ns 40 to Lund and mere then than CO 60 C wait obtained of oC this difference tho lute whal whaler r I steered their ships Into tho the uncharted bays ba cast cant anchor lowered 10 away I wn and without ul a n shift of po pa position filled their hll with oil nom font tho lie t females KILLING 1 NOT AN Al hAS Y TASK TAS The Tho work of ot killing California l gray limy whales while the lasted hat h 1 some peculiar features the shore horl pta sta tn lap being of ot special Interest Thus ThuR the tho of ot course with willi the Ih tools bola IO l to which they worn wern Tim Thin fh bout boats at nt the tho first shorn shore station wore were purchased 11 from rein whole whale ships having outfits IR to aunt and so 1111 tio tho ip harpoons elc in III a It boat bont i that lint scat MH pulled by h four tour oars and that carried a It man lu tn at tho the bow ready ru y to 10 trout throw they the harpoon with another at nt the tho stern handling the Iho steering ore tho the ss rowed towed away merrily to 1 1 ut nt tack this now nona kind of or whale Tho Thu whales tern so pa fearless wh n bound south that they 1111 cane camp among the rocks In shoal water and amI even 1111 rolled 1 then In m ilia tho breakers on Oil alongshore wind bars bare bauIt It wai as easy cagy to tl place u Ii boat bont within striking s distance lint But when It the tho mun rit nt the tho bow bee hurled his hh harpoon ri mon the thu s ro rt rl suit cult wits 1 something to tn tho the Inexperienced For Foi tho lute gnu shale while no morn more than tian 30 or 10 to tent feet long was urns possessed of oh r strength th anti and i agility out of at all nil to 10 Its size anti and a 1 temper that was frightful Ordinary I whales on nn feeling the tho Iron would usually sound hound or 01 run If It one turned to 10 tight fight Its motion ivero so IlO slow rela relatively that alert were usual usually usually ly able to hI tarn stern nil ell or O turn aside In time to escape But Hut the tho Instant hl the touched the tray gray whale It Il turned like a flash to light nUns Guns for tor shooting whales were al already already ready ih use on nn sou of ot the whole whale The projectile was WIlS a I shell that exploded In tho the whale with deadly ef of effect feet But Dut In the ordinary ordinal y fishery ushery she the tho gun Fun was Willi never used until tho the boat had teen been fastened to the tho by means of or a 11 harpoon thrown by b hand and oven oen then the tho preferred the tho hand lance unless tho ho whale turned to light fight In n the gray gm whale fishery shor these the 3 e guns s wIh weh c were fired from rom the shoulder were ere used u ed from tho thu first If It well elle especially P a c 3 if quickly handled they the served senell the tho purpose But Dut so ninny many man boats boots wore score knocked out nut of ot water tenter by theM fighters that hat the pray gra whales soon Bonn ennio to tC IM bt known as at the th Ih devil 1111 anti by WiLt name luau they the lute uto nov Cupid culled In the tho book It H IB Is s li h I significant furl filet that thol many of tho the wholes whales were veto covered with I from rein wounds that had been inflicted with the stone and null Ivory hory weapons of or ortho the tha L Eskimo and other Indians and many of these weapons were ivero cut OUI from ruin the blubber or ot the tho whales that Were 1 10 saved American had shown them themselves themselves selves to be among tho the most lost conserva conservative tive ha of or any uny clae elnes of ot workmen In tho the country 3 but ut when w 1 mn they the had fully tiltY c com eOl n reh tho tha danger In t the gray Im n wh ale fishery fisher they began bean to look around tar for t I some noir newfangled notion that would slake mako their pursuit less lella dangerous Tho The darting gun Run now no In use pe in nl the Arctic fishery had hall hot act ot b Ien baen en Invented at nt that lint time but hul the tho whalers from tho rho Scotch putts ports used a II gun gUll that hunt was so IO hip big and heavy heM It had bad to bo be mounted on ou a w 7 This lh h Is gun had been along the tho Arctic Ice Ico bo be because cause causo of Its range Tho The Greenland whales so shy 11 that hat It was waR flit dlf to got gat ot within hund range While tho the gray whale 1111 comparative comparatively ly Iy easy l approach what Its hunters wonted wanted l was svgs a 0 method methol of striking that hut would enable thorn them to 0 keep out of oC range of ot Its lis ready tall and th the gun proved just Juat the thing thin The Tho barrel burrel of ot this gun gUll as ns described by h tho the maker was WM three feet long lonK anti and tho the hero bora had a h diameter of an un inch nOd and anda nOda a halt half The projectile was wil a n harpoon 1 or n ot of a fuel o 11 t iron that hut nIra Inserted butt bull U first fisl r In the lie of tho ho gun gUll Tho shank of the tho harpoon was slotted and In III thin tho slot Blot was a n 1 ring to tn which wh eh the harpoon line lino was attached The Tho charge chargo of oC powder used lIell In tho the Greenland fishery was WM six drums drams Tho Thu lock was wal of or the old hummer hammer style en enclosed n closed In u II brass braes box that usually pro plo protected It from from the tho spray The Tho trigger trl Cr was u upped piled by b means of oC a cord coal 1 Thu Tho weight of ot tho the gun was 70 pounds When lIell this thin gun gull was fired roil tho the harpoon lieu Hew point first t dragging them the line behind It to a range of or 40 o yards SPECIAL HARPOON ADOPTED 1 In III adopting this stylo of or gun the tho California whaler whalers made n a IL harpoon of or their own lId of ot two barbs Il It hull had only one and thin hits ono one was wan made in it a I separate piece which was to the shank of the tho harpoon In III such uch a u way 0 that thaI when tired fIred from the gun the barb lay III close clone beside tho the head hen l of o the shank k kArter After Arter It had entered tho the whale how hol however however ever eer and a II strain was uns brought h on tho tholine ho hoh line hue 1 the tho barb turned around m l till the end of tho he shank forming a IL crone like lIko a n T r TIt rIt i It was thus anchored In tho whole whale Thin The charge of powder used In It California was lien U 14 drams dran t s The lino was made of or manila fibre ns a soft Hott as lIS silk Having a 0 gun that throw n harpoon to a n range of or 40 to yards Iho tho had space apace enough between their boat hoat mid tho rho agile whale to enable thom them item to 10 dodge usually and thus thuR they the found time for or using tho the deadly shoulder gun gunThe The Tho const fishery fisher fishel was as pe po peculiar culiar culler in 11 the ferocious of ot the whales shores that were wen most moat numerous std and andIn In the use of ot these swivel guns No Nowhere where else elso In the Ih United States have such Much guns become fashionable Another er 01 peculiarity In the th fishery at the shore Rhone lhor station was tens found In Iu the fact that tho lie crown crews In most inept cases well partners and not p of oC one cite man 1 or company or ii rather It tk should be In anId that they tUcy tho were ticie at Il once owners and 1111 R Rhen When hen a whole tins 1111 sawed saved each matt mall l a 1 lay In In proportion to the tho th work bo he loud hlll done lOllI Thus Thui the tho who ho pulled pinked tin th h 0 on Ill rp received n a Im III y of or from one to oun of tit tto tu product t ct rhe I urn men who iho aleM rd 1 th 1 bout to toM t 1 o M received th I w i iTic th t t men tube wh time the with lIh tho the harpoon hud from oae to 11 onu on It Is to bo tm noted that hll tho lie OOn thrower also used tho the bomb 1 throwing Kims on the nl fast to a n lo that IhM did not light fight In lilt tho ordinary tho I harpoon after neter fastening a n i to tin the boat went aft and allowed the thu man at It steering oar always ono eon of It If the e males neel c s ot or tho thin ship to go a 0 forward tumid and finish the lilt killing k Tho The cr ot or tho Iho crew having unfit onro 1 drawn their lay i proceeded to divide diode what whitt according to 10 tho the tharon harol that each owned In III tho the outfit Still an oIt another a other peculiarity of at the tho shore stations was waa the ot of a n Chinaman who wai aaa usually A P I cook and amt received for tor his pity pay tho the of tho the whale halo taken ANOTHER 1 OTIER CURIOUS A curious weapon that wo was Invented for tOI tho the use uso of ot tho rho shore horo was waif wasa a 1 rocket A harpoon hl wan wag toed fitted to La tho the head bend of ot tho the rocket A Agun AUn Agun gun Un barrel of ot tho the used uell to fire re bombs bomb Into whales was wal also fitted to It 11 means of a n a curiously arranged trigger this gun sun barrel harrol fired a II bomb Into tho the as IS soon noon aa na the tiro th harpoon hull hind It Tests rests on the beach b showed that lint tha tho rocket hind had n II range of ot yards but for ome some reason presumably lIro um ably because It was less convenient t anti and less Jes accurate than a n swivel alvel gun gull It vas never cr popular with the tho Of Ot course in Ili this fishery as es In his the tho others the tho adoption of or improved weapons ons Oua did but shorten 1 tho life lito of oC tho the In tn Industry Xo No record recent was ever e Jr made ot of tho rho number of ot whales killed In Ing lalena hay bay amid on ou tho the other breeding grounds off the lie mast coast of or Mexico but It has 1 authoritatively estimated that lint at the tho shore horo stations at least heart whales were titre taken in to tho the course of or 10 0 O years yearn often after tho the first one cine was ost b U If ono tho numbest known to 10 haunt thin tho coast durIng dining thu migrations the lilt t 11 annual IU ual kill was seem soom higly Insignificant that Is It might seem scent BO so at lit float thought for tor on the tho thea vertigo a the th number watt was less leas than 1 per sir cent cont ot of the migrants But this annual toll toil together with lIh tho the slaughter on the tho breeding br grounds was more moru than enough to 10 destroy tha tho lie balanco of nature Indeed it is la likely that t the lie annual increase was no Won titan enough to 10 preserve tho the numbers u of oC f the schools In tho thin presence c of ot the tho natural cau of ot death before the hi began the tho ho slaughter and that the tho Invasion of ot the lie brooding breeding grounds was as of or Its Itself lf enough to exterminate the tho rare Ihl was lIaR not two duo din to lit l thi nl m In la the Iho t o oil n Ilan markH r t fio 1 gray whales did not t lair And aud ns its tho tiro ot or oil 01 loll fell titter Iu n Into 1180 tho the 1 the fishery leaving It to won |
