THE WHALER ISABELLA.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 272, 26 April 1875, Page 3

THE WHALER ISABELLA.

{New Zealand Tima ) The brigantine Isabella, which during the past few weeks has been fitting in this harbor as a whaler, finished her equipment (with the exception of try-pots, which will be picked up at Porirua), and was ready to proceed to sea yesterday ; but the superstition which even now obtains amongst many seamen and particularly whalers that nothing but ill-luck can attend a vessel and her crew which depart on a voyage on a Friday, induced her captain and owner to delay his departure till this morning. The Isabella is a substantiallybuilt brigantine of 82 tons register, launched from a New South Wales shipyard, and owned by her skipper, George Toms, who, in connection with his father and brothers, will be remembered by the early settlers in Cook Strait as a successful shore-whaler from Queen Charlotte Sound, and more recently from Porirua Bay. The _ craft, from her handy size and construction, is well-adapted for short cruises on the New Zealand coast, and on inspection yesterday she appeared to be fully equipped with all the implements necessary for the successful prosecution of the enterprise in which she is about to engage. She is provisioned for six months, but it is probable, if her crew are at all lucky, that she will return to Wellington before the termination of the whaling season, which, in these latitudes, commences in April and terminates in September. Her crew numbers seventeen, all told, every man of whom is an experienced whaler. Her master and mate, Captain Toms and his brother, have had considerable experience as ship whalers, besides the knowledge which they have obtained of the perilous occupation by shore whaling. George Toms, the master, sailed for a time from Hobarton in a Tasmanian whaler, and his brother gained experience in deep-sea fishing in the brig Corsair, which hailed from Lyttelton. The Isabella leaves this harbor with two well-equipped Hobartonbuilt whaleboats. One of these is a very light boat with fine sharp lines, and her suitability for whaling—notwithstanding that she has the reputation of having fastened on to a fine fish—is doubted by several who ought to know what a whaleboat should be. She was brought to Wellington a few months since •by the Hobart Town barque Planter, and was bought by a resident here for a song, who, after affecting some necessary repairs, disposed of her to Captain Toms. Mr Liardet did not import the boat; the only interest he ever possessed in her was that of coxswain for a crew from the man-of-war Rosario, who rowed her at our last annual regatta. Both boats are swung on davits abaft the mainmast, and arc ready for active use at a moment’s notice. Lines, line tubs, harpoons, lances, hatchets, and all the etceteras necessary to the enterprise, are on board, and fitted. There is tank and cask room for thirty tons of oil, equal, according to American whalers’ measurement, to 300 barrels. All the tanks and barrels are lashed and filled with fresh water, which will be pumped out as oil is taken, thus serving as ballast, and always keeping the vessel in good sailing trim. Her crew have shipped on what is known as the “lay” principle. The owners of the vessel equip and provision the ship, and the crew take, as their share in lieu of wages—an able seaman one-fortieth part, and an ordinary seaman one-fiftieth part of the gross takings of oil. The Isabella will sail direct for Porirua, where try-pots will be shipped; then she will make for Queen Charlotte Sound, where a whaleboat will be obtained, and then the vessel will stand away on her whaling cruise. Her cruising ground, it is probable, will be from the Kaikouras southwards to the Snares, and as the shipping trade in those latitudes is considerable, the Isabella will doubtless be frequently spoken and reported. Messrs Krull and Co. are agents for the enterprising owner, who has the best wishes of the mercantile community of the port for complete success in his new venture.