FAST TO A WHALE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1486, 8 July 1912, Page 9

FAST TO A WHALE

EXCITING CiTASE.

An exciting chase after a whale took place at Kaikoura last week. So fur this season few whales have been observed passing tho Peninsula ' (says tho "Star"), but two of them passed closo in about noon on the day in question. A crew, under T. and H. Norton, got a boat out, and gavo chaso, being followed by Mr. Hinds's launch as tendir. Opposite tho show ground tho boat drew within striking distance, and a wellthrown harpoon was driven straight and deep into a largo bull "right" whale. Immediately there was commotion, and for. tho nnmoroiis spectators—who. by this time, were clustered on every coign of advantage for sight-seeing purposes, there whs plenty of excitement. In his agony, the "leviathan'' whirled round and round; not a minute elapsed between his gigantic efforts to free himself of that murderous weapon. Coming clean out of tho water ho hurled himself head downwards, and his enormous flukes lashed the sea into volumes of spray. Again and again it seemed as if the boat must come to grief, (lie brute appeared so desperate and so close. But the crew proved a wavy lot; they wore fast on ?o a fow hundred pounds, and would try hard not to lose it. A lance, projected well, informed tho cetacean that ho had better try other tactics; he did, and away ■lie went southwards. (returning on his route) at a furious paco .with, ~ tho boat in tow. And meanwhile the cow was also wending her way back, slowly, about a quarter of a mile from tho shore. Another and yet another lance did not deter the captive, but seemed to increase his speed and his angry pliragingsJ At times tho. boat was dragged through the water at lightning pace, and could scarcely be seen; at otliers, she was almost stationary, as tho whale sounded. Still going south, and fighting for his existence, the whale drew round the Peninsula, and hero the southerly choppy sea was fully met. ' It was impossible to hang on, the boat _ being .every minute in danger of swamping, arid, reluctantly, tho order to "cut" was given. So. after a three hours' fight, away went the sore-ly-smitten leviathan, with "harpoon, lances, and fathoms of line, and a tired crew pacltllod back to harbour. The whale, it is estimated, would have proved a good six or seven ton animal—something liko JC4SO worth.