Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1876 — How Two White Whales Were Captured. [ARTICLE]

How Two White Whales Were Captured.

By telegrams received in this city from Quebec and Portland, Me., yesterday, it is learned that the agents of Mr. w. C. Coup, have secured two still-grown White whales, and have transported them as far as the latter city in safety. The capture of these whales has heretofore been considered an inpossibility, and much money has been expended without return in the fruitless efforts to take the monsters of the deep alive. The trouble and expense incurred in capturing these whales would astonish an orainaryjbusiness man with no eye to the speculative field of nature’s wonders. In order to secure these specimens it was necessary to send agents to the coast of Labrador several months ago. There, on proper hnancial temptations being offered, certain expert whaling men were induced to attempt the difficult—and by many tiiought to be impossible—feat of capturing the monsters. During the springtime it is the habit of this species of whale to take refuge in the little coves and bays of the coast to calve. They enter when the tide floods and depart very artfully as it ebbs, lest they be left high and dry, as has been several times the case. The method employed this time to take them alive was a novel as well as successful one. A strong tank, very large and specially constructed for the purpose, was sunk at the mouth of one of the bays, the ponderous lid on top being left invitingly open. Then, after the tide came in at full flood, a strong net was stretched across the outlet to the bay, and the fish trappers sat down and waited patiently for the tide to ebb. As the water began to shoal in the bay a number of very large white whales were seen in a state of great commotion. After vainly striving to sail out into the open sea, being restrained by the net, which they did not attempt to break through, they naturally sought the deep water in the tank, and the lid was closed on them. A derrick which had been provided for the purpose was floated beside the trap, and chains being hitched to it, and the weights that sunk it thrown ofl, an attempt was made to raise it clear out of the water. The weight was too great, however, for the power employed on the derrick, and the attempt was abandoned for the time. An inspection of the trap, however, allowed the difficulty. There were four whales of prodigious size floundering about in their capacious prison, and their combined weight was too great for the lifting power of the apparatus at hand. The old whalers held a council and determined to sacrifice two of the prisoners in order that they might secure the other two alive. After much delay and difficulty the two smaller whales were harpooned and killed, and the carcasses drawn out of the trap. The attempt to raise them was then made again, and this time with success. The trap and its contents were raised clear, and after a long journey afloat landed safely on shore. There a car fitted up for the purpose was ready to receive the strange passengers, and after some trouble the tank was placed in position on it. Two other tank cars, laden with sea-water, were attached to this, with apparatus so arranged that the tank in which the whales disported was constantly fed with a stream of fresh sea water flowing in and out This system worked marvelously well, managed, however, with the care and skill of a large force of attendants skilled in such matters, and the special train of the whales arrived at Portland late on Friday night without the least accident to the strange passengers. At that point, however, it was thought best to abandon the rail and take to the sea for the rest of the trip to New York. The tank was accordingly transferred to the steamer Eleanora, and it is confidently expected that the whales will arrive in her alive and healthy on Wednesday next. This will be the first time that such specimens have ever been secured alive for exhibition, and New York will have for her aquarium two specimens unequaled even in the aquaria of Europe.—ls. T. Herald , May 28. The whales subsequently arrived in good condition at New York, and were at once removed to their permanent quarters. There a most unfortunate accident occurred, resulting in the death of the largest specimen. Owing to the carelessness of some of the workmen some sharp iron edges had been exposed in the tank. Directly the whales were put out of the temporary tanks into their quarters the largest commenced lashing round at a furious rate of speed, and in so doing struck its flukes against the iron, causing a wound from which it bled to death in a few hours.”