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Folklore
FORMA
Circumstance of Tnterview
Washington
Peter D. Ealvus
Seattle, Washington
December 19, 1958
"Whales"
1. Chris Olsen, Marysville, Washington
2. December 19, 1958
3. Seattle waterfront
4.
5. (Not obtainable)
6.
(c)] en was foraerly gunner on SS Tanginak, a whaler operating out of
Bellevue, Washington, in Alaskan waters)
Folklore
FOBS! B
Personal History of Informant
Washington
Peter D. Salvus
Seattle, Washington
December 19, 1958
"Whales"
Chris Olsen, Marysville, Washington
1. Norwegian
2.
3.
(Not obtainable)
4.
Folklore FolkWays Salvus.
Maki
Veils haf a burying ground de same as elephants, but no vun has found
vun. Von I vas a boy I shipped on a vailer from Norvay an ve vailed in South
Seas. Shipmates mho had followed de sea on Tailors told me sperm vails vould
alvays come back to de vaters off Tasmania to die, no matter how far dey I.re
avay from dere.
Ve caught many sperm yule dere-- big vuns. Dere vas where most of de
ambergris vas found, too. Amergris comes from sick vials, so maybe de sailors
yust figlred dis vas vbere the vhales vould come to die.
--Chris Olsen,
Marysville, Wash.
Gunner on SS Tanginak,
a whaler operating out
of Bellevue, Wish., in
Alaskan waters.
Folklore de Folkways Salvus
Killer veils are de volfs of de sea an travel in packs yoos like a band
off timber wolfs or coyotes. Dey ain't near as big as a humpy, blue or fin,
vid only de big tongue gone and I know de killer veils had been at vork.
Dey travel in packs off about fifteen an keep crowding dere prey so he
don't get if chance to mound. I abased a finback once that vas being crowded
by a pack off killers. I never vent to do it again. I vas standing on de
gunner's platform vaiting for a shot at de fin. I couldn't tell. yen it vas
going to blow an vit de killers blowing all around de bow I yoost swung the
gun from side to side like a crazy man. You can't tell de difference between
a killer's blow an de blow off a fin.
De killers ain't no good for blubber--yoost like peeling a banana.
--Chris Olsen,
Maryevilles Wash.
Gunner on SS Tanginak,
a whaler opera ng
of Bellevue, rash., in
Alaskan waters.