THE OKARITO WHALE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 331, 19 October 1908, Page 3

THE OKARITO WHALE.

(Bf TELEGEAPa—miss association.) Christchuroh, .October 16. Regarding tho Okarito whale skeleton which has just been received at- tho Christchurch Museum, Mr. E. G. Waito, the curator, said that lie proposed first to arrange tho bones in their proper order so that it could bo ascertained if the skeleton was complete. After that they would bo given some littlo treatment to extract tho oil and further clean them. Arrangements would at onco bo made for tho temporary housing of tho skeleton. Twofold Bay, tho famous Australian whaling station, recently reported the capture of a whalo 97ft. long. There was a feeling of. disappointment loca.lly that the Okarito leviathan should have been dispossessed so soon of tho distinction of being tho largest known specimen. There is, however, an explanation to make which may possibly dispose-of tho pretensions of > the Twofold Bay, catch. Tho la.tter was measured by whalemen, and it is thought would be measured to the tip of the flukes, which would give - it a measurement of 12ft. morp than if it had been measured only to the end of tho bone. ' Tho Okarito whalo measures 87ft. to the end of the bone, but if the measurement; were taken to the tip of the flukes the total length would be considera.bly over 100 ft. The skeleton has attracted a good deal of attention from those who are merely curious as well as from those who take an interest in natural history. Mr. Waite, the curator, has decided that the skeleton shall only be shown to those who have contributed to the purchase fund.