HIS HISTORY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1082, 22 March 1911, Page 6

HIS HISTORY.

THE WHITE FISH OF THE PASS. ONE OF THE SEA'S WONDERS. As showing tho notice ■ which "Jack" attracted all over the world, and to give a rather graphic idea of the peculiar habits of this lish, the following article written by 3h. Gordon Shaw for tho English "Field" is quoted:— "Pelorus Jack," the white fish of tho French Pass, New Zealand, is certainly a unique sight, and is the most mysterious fish in tho world. Each time I visit New Zealand I make a special trip by steamer to seo and photograph him. But wherever mention is made ot this wonderful creature and his curious ways, the story is received with incredulity. People wink and say, "Well! Surely this is quite the biggost fish story!" And it is because I have everywhere met with so much of this sceptical unbelief (in spite of showing photographs and other documentary evidence) that I am acceding to a request and giving tho "Field" a true account of this the only fish in the world which has a special Act of Parliament for his particular protection; for this fish, known as Pelorus Jack, is so protected by a Special Order-iu-C'6uncil of the New Zealand Government. Pelorus Jack is a white fish about Oft. Gin. long; he lives in Pelorus Sound—a narrow channel (about three hours' steam from Nelson), traversed by steamers plying between Picton and Nelson, New Zealand.

Scarred by a Steamer. But one day in the summer of l'JOo, when .lack, possibly, was careless in his gambols, the- bow of the Penguin struck him sharply, leaving a scar, clearly visiblo loiig after, on his off side; and it is true that for months afterwards he would not again come close to her. Though after this he showed to her as usual, he kept woll out on her beam. She had injured him, and he knew her and remembered it. Some time previous to this incident, when two steamers met in his domain, going in opposite directions, he, after being with one, turned and caught up with tho other, escorting her also for a time. Ho does not show to sailing vessels and only at some distance off to strango steamers of size, and not in close friendship at the bows. When last in New Zealand, I went, as usual, to sec Jack. On this occasion I was favoured with a letter from the manager of the Union Steam Ship Company in Wellington to Captain Backstrom, of the s.s. Wainui. It was this latter gentleman who, eighteen years ago, first' discovered and reported the regular appearance of this white fish to the Union Steam Shin Company's officials at Wellington. "Consequent on the skipper's advice (and his absolute certainty that Jack never failed to come to his ship), I went down to Nelson in the new Clyde-built s.s. Arahnra, in order to get the Wainui at Nelson and come back in her on a daylight trip. On the way down Jack showed to tho Arahura for some minutes at tho usual part as wo passed through his domain, but a little distance out on the port side. This was only as I had expected, for sho was a now and much faster boat. At Nelson I duly transhipped on to the Wainui to come back. This was in October, 1905. I remember it was Trafalgar Day for tho Governor was present at the Nelson celebrations. I got two good photos of Jack out of a dozen. I snapped, which mostly showed only his splash, made after a leap out of tho water. On this occasion 1 watched him carefully for fully ten minutes engaged i:i his regular joyous gymnastic performances at the bows. The scar dealt him earlier in tho year by the s.s. Penguin was plainly visiblo still. Of What Species Was He? Discussion frequently occurs as to what species Jack really belongs. Locally they style. Mm .the "white .whole,"- Iluv^Xev

Zealand Government's Order-in-Council describes him as "the fish or mammal known us iiis.w's dolphin." Most people who tee him consider he resembles a shark, with his semi-eircular mouth under a protruding snout, and a photo I once got of his back tin out of the water rather supports this idea. No one has ever succeeded in getting a photograph of his fail, which would go far to determine his species, but, for obvious reasons, that is almost impossible to secure. Hut a species of fish, called "blackrish" locally, somewhat like tho porpuise, frequent the New Zealand coast, and it is generally considered that he is one of them. As to his length, and also the time he has boon known, 1 have seen both of Ilie.-e points 'considerably extended" in print to respectively "from 12ft. to 15ft." ami "known for 33 years." Now, I am rjuito sure that this fish is not more than 10ft. long, and it seems pretty certain that his authentic appearance in lVlorus Sound does not date before ISS9, when the peculiar fact was noted and reported by Captahi' Backstrom, from whom I have a letter to this effect, and about the fish generally. But I have been told that mifiny years ago—over 30—two white fish, always together, did frequent the West Coast of Now Zealand (the late Mr. Seddon told mo of this when talking to hini on one occasion about Pelorus Jack), and about these two an interesting legend was told me by an old Maori chief near Nelson. Briefly, it was this:— A Legend. Years and years ago, before the pakeha (white man) came, the prince- of an Auckland tribe, hearing of the great beauty and charm of a princess on the West Coast, came down with many followers in canoes. He saw her, and was conquered. But her father, the Maori chief, would have none of him. He ordered the prince off, and threatened his life if he caught him again on his territory. But the love waa mutual, and the prince, though not allowed to land, hung around in his canoe, meeting the princess often and secretly at the waters edge. For long this continued. The prince's followers left or died, and even his own canoe rotted and fell to pieces. Then they met in the shallow waters at the edge, till in the course of time . Nature took pity on their love, and gave to each the shape and fins of fish, enabling them to depart and live happily for years as fish on the coast, till, alas! the princess died. Then the prince's grief was very great; he swore to live alone, a hermit's life for ever, and sought a lonely cave in Pelorus Sound, where he still rules. So runs the legend. But Pelorus Jack is no legend, no fisherman's yarn. He is a visible fact which can be verified. Thousands have seen him, who, till they did. discredited tho whole story as absurd and impossible. Why He Lived Alone. It is difficult to offer an explanation for the extraordinary ways of this fish, and I have never heard any theory advanced. But I suggest that his white colour is itself the reason and explanation for his solitary life and peculiar ways. It may have come to him only in later years—the result of great age—or he may have been born a "freak." Tn either case its strangeness is sufficient to ostracise him from association with his fellows. They fear him, and fly at his approach. He is a foreign, uncanny creature to then). Probably they chase him and have tried to kill him. So he lives alone. Pelorus Jack is an outcast; he has no friends, no fish of liis kind to frolic with him over the seas. And the steamers? Probably he thinks them big fish. They at least do not shun or hurt him. and they swim quickly. So in their goings and comings he accompanies them, enjoying their fellowship and friendly spirit so far as he may dare to the limit of his haunt, for beyond that he knows that creatures of his own kiiid may attack him.