THE WHALING SEASON

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2449, 30 April 1915, Page 7

THE WHALING SEASON

PROSPECTS IN THE NORTH. (By Telegraph—Specif Correspondent.) Auckland, April 29.The steam whaler Haiianui II was to leave Russell to-day for Auckland to undergo annual survey in preparation o r u oomm e dialing season. Mr. Herbert Cook, of Russell, explained to a "Herald" reporter that the whales are expected about the end of May. There, are two whaling seasons during the months of June and July and September and October. At the present time the whales are down south exploring the food localities. They live largely on crayfish spawn and the spa™ of other fish. About this time they commence to move north to the breeding or calving grounds and return later ou. _ Whaling operations are designedto intercept the mammals on their noitherly and southerly courses and between the two periods the whalers are idle. Iho creatures come in one's and two s, three's and four's, and sometimes in large numbers. Mr. Cook never has any idea whether a season is to be a good or bad one until the whales arrive. Last year was described as only fair, fifty-seven being caught during the four months of 1914, a hundred would constitute a good seaf" 1 -/ Much depends on the weather, tor the whalers cannot go out in stormy periods.. The vessel lies at Whangamumu during the season, and issues forth every morning with a man on the look-out at the crow's nest. Captain Hall will navigate the vessel,