ill make off at
full speed dragging in his wake the assailant's boat which flies over
the face of the water, boiling with the mighty strokes of the monster's
tail. Soon the water is red for each beluga sheds eight or ten gallons
of blood. When he is tired the boat is drawn in closer by the rope
fastened to the animal. As opportunity offers the spear is used and,
driven home by a strong hand, it sometimes goes clear through the body.
A skilful man will quickly strike some vital spot; otherwise the beluga
struggles long.

"Picture if possible," says the Abbe, "the animation of the beluga hunt
when a hundred of them are in the weir, when twenty-five or thirty men
are pursuing them, when five or six boats dragged by the creatures are
ploughing the enclosed waters in every direction, when the spears are
hurled from all sides and the men are covered with the blood which
gushes out in streams. Some years ago the passengers of a passing
steamer from Europe were witnesses of such a scene and showed their keen
interest by firing a salvo of cannon."

When the belugas have been killed the next task is to get them to shore.
The work must be done quickly for the next tide will stop all work and
may sweep the animals away. Horses are brought and the bodies are
dragged ashore or partly floated with the aid of the rising tide. The
task of cutting up and boiling follows immediately. Workmen with long
knives take off the skin and separate the blubber from the flesh. The
Abbe Casgrain describes the process in detail. In the end the blubber is
cut up into small pieces and boiled in huge caldrons. The poor never
fail to come for their share of the catch and, with proverbial charity,
the Company carrying on the operations never send them away empty. "The
share-holders" says the Abbe Casgrain, "are convinced that the success
of their labours depends upon the gifts which they make to God, and
their generosity merits His benediction," Many a habitant goes home with
a mass of blubber in his pot or hooked to the end of a stout branch.

The fishery is old and has been very profitable. La Potherie describes
the industry as it existed at Kamouraska in 1701: that at Riviere Ouelle
is found in 1707 and it remained in the hands of the heirs of the
original promoters until, in 1870, it was found necessary to form them
into an incorporated company. The oil is highly valued. It is very clear
and has good lubricating qualities. Before the universal sway o