WHALE SHOOTING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 111, 18 April 1876, Page 4

WHALE SHOOTING.

f On a small island opposite to tbe town of Wadso, in the extreme north of Norway, there exists an establishment, the like of which is probably not to be met with in any part of the world. Its most appropriate designation would be, perhaps, a slaughter-yard for whales; and Mr Foyn, its: proprietor, conducts the business of capturing and cutting up the monsters in a manner peculiarly his own. Instead of fitting-out the usual sized vessels, intended to make long voyages and bring home only the most putts of the animal, Mr. Foyn employs small— lso to 180 tons — screw-steamers, shoots bis fish with a

cannon, and has them towed back one by one, as they are captured, lo the shambles at Wadso. As tho fi&binggrounds are within easy reach of the latter, the steamers, as a rule, secure and return with a prize within twelve hours" time. With respect to the cannon employed, it is a gun having a chamber about four feet long ; tbis is mounted on the forecastle of the vessel, and, being very accurately balanced, can be easily moved to allow an exact aim to be taken. The projectile in use consists of a long iron bolt, having at its extreme end four harpoons, bound round with a line so as to be flat, and close to the harpoons a five or sixpounder Bhell. As soon as the steamer has approached sufficiently near to the fish— and whales off tbat part of the coast are not over shy, allowing a vessel to come within shot — the bolt is fired off, and, if well directed, penetrates deeply into the flesh and blubber of tbe animal. The whale then naturally rushes off at a furious pace, thinking thus to elude his pursuers. Unfortunately for him, however, no step could be more suicidal, for the effect of this rapid movement is to make the bolt slip back a little, thus setting free the four harpoons from the lines, and, by means of a mechanical arrangement, causing the shell to explode - . This generally proves the coup de grace, killing the fish outright ; but occasionally the animal is not sufficiently hard hit, and its capture is not so easily effected, as it dashes away at a tremendous speed, dragging the steamer after it. -