FIGHT WITH WHALE

Evening Star, Issue 19790, 14 February 1928, Page 5

FIGHT WITH WHALE

KARACHI FISHERMAN'S ORDEAL The crews of two small fishing smacks had an exciting experience in the Arabian Sea when a whale 30ft long became entangled in their net (states tho ‘ Pioneer,’ Allahabad). The whale’s struggles to free itself only caused it to become more involved in the net, until its flippers were lashed against its sides. Even then it was far from powerless, as was seen by the ordeal to which the fishermen were submitted. They decided to save their net and capture their prize at all cost, but four days and nights passed before they succeeded. During this time they had to fight strenuously and continuously with the monster, and were towed in the Arabian Sea for miles. Often the boats were in peril in mid-ocean of being capsized by the whale’s unceasing endeavors to escape. Fortunately, however, the sea was calm, and this helped tho fishermen. At tho end of the four days, when their food supplies had given out and they were suffering terribly from tho effects of exposure to the sun, they were despairing of success, and had decided to abandon their capture, when they sighted Clifton, which is near Karachi. Upon this they renewed their efforts and managed to draw tho whale towards the shore.

When close enough they signalled for help. About a dozen fishing smacks promptly went to their assistance, and all the boats then helped to drag the fish into Karachi Harbor. An attempt was then made to beach the monster, but this task occupied eighty men for a whole day, the whale’s frantic resistance churning the shallow sea into foam. When landed the whale provided yet another surprise for its captors. It suddenly spouted out from its mouth, besides a large quantity of fish, a biscuit tin and a few yards of cocoannt matting. It was cut up for domestic and commercial purposes.