We were equally zealous in our efforts to obtain the largest living
creatures of the deep; and the fact that we exhibited live whales from
the Isle Aux Condries was proof of our enterprise in this direction.
Whales are timid, stupid creatures; in pursuit of small fish they run
up close to the shore, and are captured by a comparatively simple
method. Across the mouth of some deep bay a line of piles is driven
when the water is at low tide; then the fishing fleet only awaits the
arrival of a school of cetacea. These will sooner or later be seen
rushing madly shoreward in pursuit of the schools of smaller fish on
which they feed. When the whales are sighted the fishing vessels
separate and endeavor to surround the assemblage of marine monsters. At
high tide, when the line of piles is deeply submerged, the fleet crowds
in toward the shore, and the frightened whales take refuge in the bay.
Here they remain undisturbed, and are generally quiet until they feel
the tide receding. Then they become restless, and finally make a dash
for deep water, only to run against the line of piles. It would be
comparatively easy for a big whale to batter a great gap in the
improvised fence, and, in fact, there is frequently room enough between
certain piles for him to pass through unharmed, but he is naturally
timid and cowardly, and when within a yard or two of the piles, wheels
about and darts back in terror toward the shore. This fruitless and
exhausting manoeuvre is kept up until the tide has completely gone
out and he is left helpless and stranded. In all my experience in this
peculiar line of live fishing I have never known a whale to break
through the barrier of piles and make his escape.
The boxing and transportation to New York of these big fish was a great
labor, and it often took fifty strong men several hours to get one of
the monsters into its traveling case. Once in its box, water had to be
poured over the back and blowholes of the imprisoned whale. The water
pouring, by the way, was a monotonous and tiresome job which had to be
continued without intermission during the subsequent ninety hours while
the whale was being carried by vessel to Quebec, thence by rail via
Montreal and Albany to New York. The water in which they lie must not
cover their blow-holes, for, having no room to move they would be
unable to rise and breathe and consequently would drown. Their boxes,
therefore, were tight from the bottom up only as far as their eyes.
Above that line there were cracks for the surplus water to flow off,
and it was necessary for a man to stand over the whale and constantly
drench him until the receiving tank was reached,--a difficult
undertaking.
I contracted to send a living whale to A. A. Stewart, of the AEtna
Insurance Company, a speculator, who with others in Cincinnati decided
they wanted a whale. For a certain sum of money, therefore, I agreed to
land one alive in that city. This venture made me much trouble and
great expense, for, notwithstanding the great care exercised the animal
died en route, and it was not until three had been lost that I
succeeded, June 26, 1877, in landing one alive. This was considered a
great achievement and was telegraphed all over the nation.