GATEWAY CORRESPONDENT GIVES
GLEANINGS FROM THE WESTWARD
WHALING STATIONS; WAS IN TOWN
By KATHERINE G. KANE.
From a limited research for infor
mation regarding the life and habits
of the whale, we find no authentic
knowledge on this subject. Science
does not give us the origin or age of
this leviathan of the deep; neither
do we know to a certainty the where
abouts of its habitation.
If we turn to primitive history of
the whales we find a similarity to
many marine mammals such as the
sea-otter and some species of seals,
but no corresponding lines exist to
show any relationship to these.
In the whaling area of the North
Pacific ocean there are five distinct
specie of the whale family, of which
the Blue Whale or Sulphur bottom is
the largest. This gigantic animal at
tains a length of 100 feet, and about
30 feet high, and weighs approximate
ly 100 tons, or one ton to the foot
nation has provided him with a great
caudal fin, and a pair of flukes or
flippers of about twenty-five feet in
length, these with the dorsal fin and
a powerful tail to act as a steering
guide, enables him to swim at a ter
rific speed.
The Sperm, next in size with its
immense head and mouth that could
comfortably house a small family, is
valuable for the sperm oil, and one
full size sperm whale will produce
200 drums of 110 gallon each, of oil of
which there are three grades. The
purest oil is found in tanks or huge
cells formed in the head. The sec
ond grade is taken from the pure
white layer of fat that lies just under
the skin and the third grade is taken
from the vats where the flesh and
bones are reduced to bone and meat
meal. The flesh of the sperm is not
edible as is the blue! whale as his diet
is composed of schools of the octopus,
that requires the need of teeth to
hold his prey, more than for mastica
tion. The number of teeth vary, but
often as many as two hundred and
forty teeth are found on the lower
part, each tooth weighing from one,
to two and one-half pounds. This
W’hale decomposes rapidly and must
be taken to the station as soon as
possible after being harpooned.
The Right whale comes next in size
and importance from wThich whale
bone is obtained.
ine whalebone is not bone, but a
gelataneous substance or gristle found
in the mouth of every whale but es
pecially large in the blue and right
whale. It hangs from the top of the
mouth in huge sheets often fifteen
feet long, with brush or broom-like
ends, and these act as a screen to
strain the food, as most whales live
on fish, great quantities of these are
taken at one time into their mouths
together with barrels of water. The
fish are entangled in the meshes of
this whalebone. The water is forced
out of its mouth without allowing the
fish to escape and then they are swal
lowed at leisure. An idea of the size
of a whale’s mouth, its tongue alone
would fill a room 20x15x10 and yields
from fifteen to twenty barrels of oil
besides many hundreds of pounds of
fertilizer. The long prongs of this
whalebone or gill bones are sold as
curios and brings about 31.50 per
pound, one prong of 15 feet will weigh
about 20 pounds. The Fin Back and
the Hump Back are about 50 to 60
feet long and easily found as they
seem to sleep on the surface of the
water. They contribute to the fertili
zer and bone meal.
The dissecting of a whale is an art
and not one stroke of the knives are
ever miscalculated. A flincing crew
of eight natives with their sharp flin
cing knives with slightly curved
blades from fourteen to eight inches
long and a handle about four feet re
sembling a grass scythe can prepare
a-whale for the retorts in about four
hours. The fat or blubber lies just
under the skin and is from two to
three feet thick beautifully white and
solid. Deep incisions are made thru
the fat from the head to the tail in
strips of four feet and on these are
fastened the block and tackle and the
machinery pulls the blubber off and
hoists it into its own particular vat.
From this point the meatcutters
take charge. This1 is a crew of fifteen
men who inspect the meat, and cut it
into small portions for the different
manufacturing uses such as soap, per
fume, pomades and medicinal oils.
It seems there is no limit to the
human family in their mad search for
luxuries and vanities, cosmetics and
other frailties, but when one views the
very first base of these articles, a
gigantic symetrical beautiful animal
hauled up on the slip, with many har
poons sunk deeply into its torn, lac
erated and bruised body, we began
to realize that we are the sole cause
of all this unnecessary agony and suf
fering.
The male specie is often subdued by
one or two well directed shots just
at the base of the head, but the fe
male with her mother instincts pre
dominating fights furiously with super
power in hopes of saving herself and
inborn progeny and often as many as
eight harpoons each with a bomb that
explodes three seconds after striking,
must be used before she is quieted.
After the whale is killed a hole is
bored into the body and compressed
air is pumped into the cavity and then
closed. A small red flag is fastened
on, and the whale floats until the
whale boat has as many as it can
tow in, sometimes as often as four
giant W’hales are slowly brought to
the station the result of sometimes
one day’s wrork and many times four
days’ struggle with storms and heavy
seas.
The mother whale carries her be
loved babe close to her side, one of
| her flukes clasping and almost auto
| matically licks around its form, there
the infant whale takes its nourish
ment of rich, thick creamy milk, while
the mother dashes and cavorts thru
the sea with all happiness and as she
thinks secure from all danger, but
alas! she is struck by the cruel har
poon and after terrific struggling she
and her babe still so firming clasp
ed that even in death does not relax
are brought to the surface and lashed
i to the side of the whaleboat.
The gunners of the whaleboat aver
that if they could by any means dis
tinguish between the specie, they
would never shoot a female whale,
and if we could be made to realize
the intense agony of the animals or
the excruciating torture of the steel
trap, we would shrink with horror at
the thought of enjoying the products
of one, or wearing the fur of our lit- J
tie furry creatures o£ the wilderness.
The flesh of the blue whale is very
delicious meat and looks like pork
tenderloin. I can verify this state-1
ment as I have never tasted it, but
tourists call for whale steaks apd
whale hamburger and are emphatic
in their praise. The whale tails are
cut into three inch slabs of about
three feet long and two feet wide.
These are treated to a solution for
three days and then dried and ship
ped to Japan and China where the
meat is considered a luxury and brings
about 40 cents per pound in those
countries..
There are many more interesting
things about a whaling station that I
shall write about before the next mail j
boat and with the pictures and a real
first thrill of being on a whaling ves
sel and witness the operation will be
my next theme.
Note—The above correspondent ar
rived in Seward Saturday on the
steamship Alaska, and departed for
Anchorage, where she will visit with
her sister for a time, after which
she will go to the Westward and
teach school.
AT THE HOTELS
Hotel Seward—W. Baldwin, E. Lean,
A. Schultz, A. McDonall, Geo. Barnett,
A. H. Goodman, G. Vittiorio, Tony Pa
la, Mr. and Mrs. Hayllestad, Mayme
Wright, L. Arnts, Rose Lute, John
Enge, H. Goldfield, Carl Erickson, R.
Hobbs, Tom O’Hara, Wm. McConnell,
E. Jennings, A. Cristofson.
Hotel Sexton—E. Stolberg, J. Jen
son, H. Bentley, E. E. Ritchie, W.
Lintz, K. G. Kane, Mrs. Sisof, M. O.
Anderson, F. Dahlquist, Harry Ellis,
George Nelson, W. A. Calima, Wm.
Cole, Ed Naghol, J. Price, Mr. and
Mrs. Scott, Mrs. C. Adams, Mrs. Ru
fort and son, Mr. and Mrs. Williams,
Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Flanagan, Chas.
Campbell, wife and daughter, Roy
Jones and wife, W. G. Strench, H. A.
Glover and wife, W. E. Wissing, Mrs.
Glocer, A. J. Jones, Geo. Albert, C.
E. Bunpas, A. L. Moffatt, W. Field, D.
McCoy, Mr. and Mrs. Crown, R. Sand
bank, T. Warren, F. Carnall, E. Stol
berg.
Hotel Overland—L. McDonald, H. C.
Blekenstoff, Mrs. Edith Craig, Elinor
Stalberg, J. Jensen, H. J. Dirr and
family, H. Howard, J. A. Wildell, F.
L. Du Mond, C. K. Tripp, Roy Law
son, Mrs. Kerry, Mrs. Boyd, Chas.
Goodall, Mrs. H. D. Blackburn, F. Mar
shall, R. E. Beil, W. F. Bulette, W.
McKenna, Mr. Kofalowski, Hayden
Vachon, A. V. Dunbar, E. Hansen, J,
F. Dennis, Win. Price, Art Thomp
son, D. Miller, J. Connor, H. G. Goe
bel, R. L. Maloy, S. V. Tnflfcell.
Hotel Van Gilder—A. C. Louikin, B.
Dodson and wife, C. S. Campbell and
wife, Harry Townsend, E. H. Wright
son- and wife, Miss E. Wrightson,
Mary Sturtevank, Mrs. C. Firestone,
Mr. and Mrs. Malfanta, M. L. Burk
hardt and wife, G. W. Burkhardt, Hel
en Price, T. B. Aisit, J.*P. Morgan, M.
F. Scott, Bartley Howard, V. D. Har
rison, Oscar Anderson, George - John
son, B. Weimerstrom, G. L. Jones, Mr.
and Mrs. B. Wright, L. Wright, S. A.
Heldebrand, H. L. Wilson, J. M. Dick
inson and family, C. A. Pollard, A. H.
Parfield, Geo. Pasfield, Mrs. B. B. Mo
zee and daughter, H. C. Dunlap, Os
car Hart, H. H. McCutcheon, J. J.
Burgin M. LeBlane, John Henderson,
Miss M. L. Locey, Sam Shucklin. H.
G. Ilderton.
LOST—Elgin, 15 jewel, green gold,
watch. Liberal regard. Return to J.
Ratliff, Overland Hotel. 3t
Later advices from the Admiral
Evans is to the effect that the vessel
will arrive in port this evening at 5
o’clock, one hour earlier than publish
ed in another column of this paper.
The common council will meet in
regular session this evening at 8
o’clock in the city hall.
Gateway want-ads bring results.
SEWARD LODGE NO. 1425, L.O.O.M.
Meets every first
and third Tues
day each month
at 8 p. m., at
0,<l<d Fellow-s
Hall. All visit
i n g members
welcome.
PETER N. ANDERSON, Dictator.
M. A. HORNER, Secretary.
SEWARD LODGE NO 219, F. & A. M.
JL Stated communications first
'^ttMF'and third Wednesdays of each
A\r\month; visiting brethren wel
come, J. P. Hannon, W. M.; Harold
Painter, Secretary.
RESURRECTION LODGE NO. A-7,
I. O. O. F.
Meets every Thursday at
C^*=%J8:00 p. m. in Odd Fellows’
Hall, next to the postoffice. Visiting
brothers welcome. Fred Martinides,
N. G.; Chas. Lechner, Secretary.
IGLOO NO. NINE, PIONEERS OF
ALASKA
Meets every Second and Fourth Fri
day nights in Odd Fellows’ Hall; John
Flowers, President; Coll A. McDou
gall, Secretary.
SEWARD CHAPTER NO. 10, ORDER
OF EASTERN STAR
Meeets the second and
fourth Mondays of each
month In Odd Fellows’
Hall at 8 p. m. Visiting
members always wel
come; Goldie Blue W. M.
Mrs. Viola T. Swetmann, Secretary.
SEWARD REBEKAH LOGE NO. 6-A, ,
I. O. O. F.
Meets the first and *
third Mondays of
each month in Odd
Fellows Hall at 8:00
p. m. Visiting mem
bers are always wel
come. Mrs. John
Rosness, V. G.
Alaska Interior Silver
Black Foxes, a limited
number of 1925 pups will
be sold this season. If you
wish good foxes to start
your ranch with. Let me
furnish you your breeders
Price $500 per Pair f. o. b.
Kasilof, Alaska
Kasilof Silver Fox Ranch
Louis Nissen, Propr.
Kasilof, Alaska
Cal M. Brosius
Nails, fifty varieties, Automobile Glass,
Glass, Locks, Hinges,
Stockholm Tar,
Hyd. Lime,
Plate Glass,
Colors,
Chimney Brick,
Varnish,
Corner Bead,
Mirrors,
Medusa,
White Atlas,
Keens,
Metal Lath,
Cedar, Oak, Maple,
Arch Brick,
Fire Clay,
Plaster Paris,
Hickory, Iron Bark
Beaver Board,
Gal. Cor. Iron,
Pulleys,
Flooring,
Fir, Spruce, Maple,
Ceiling, .
Rustic,
. Roof Pitch,
BB1. Lime, Paints.
Glass Cutting,
Terps, Oils,
Fihered Plaster,
Stains, putty,
Corner Lath,
Belting, Cement
Doors,
Windows,
Lumber,
Fir Lath,
Fire Brick,
Spruce Finish,
Mouldings,
Z-Lath,
Plaster Board,
Mahogany,
Roof Paper,
Building Paper,
Asbestos Paper,
Shingles,
Sash Rail,
Fir Finish,
LIBBY-OWENS WINDOW GLASS, Single and Double Strength,
Standard Oil Products, Rubber Matting, White Sand,
ASBESTOS STRIP SHINGLES, HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS,
METAL BASEMENT SASH AND FRAMES,
Sidewalk Coal Hole Covers Sidewalk Walk Lights, Etc.
CAL M. BROSIUS
BUILDING SUPPLIES
C.M.B.I
CAL M. BROSIUS
Builders’ Supplies
When things Look
BLACK Phone the
Seward Steam Laundry
Telephone Main 148
HOTEL ANCHORAGE
F. I. REED, Proprietor
Rooms with Bath. Sample Rooms in Connection
Strictly Modern Prices Reasonable
Steam Heat Good Service
HOT AND COLD WATER IN EVERY ROOM
Bus meets all trains and boats
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
HOTEL SEXTON
GEORGE SEXTON, Proprietor
SEWARD'S HOMEY HOTEL, WHERE THE OLDTIMERS
MEET
VAN GILDER HOTEL
HOT AND COLD WATER IN EVERY ROOM
•TEAM HEAT
J. S. BADGER
HOTEL SEWARD
OSCAR DAHL, Proprietor
HOMEY, COMFORTABLE ROOMS AND BATH
Convenient to Depot and Dock