HUGE WHALES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 16 November 1927, Page 7

HUGE WHALES

CHASE PLEASURE CRAFT. THRILLS NEAR SYDNEY Sydney, Oct. 20. Last summer a female whale cruised for weeks off the coast near Sydney after its calf had been stranded on one of our beaches, and scared several fishing parties in boats a couple of milea out at sea. Ou two occasions the great mammal chased boats and the occupants had narrow escapes. Early this week a yachting party proceeding from Broken Bay to Sydney had an equally exciting time, two huge whales and their calf leaping out of the sea a short distance from the boat. The yacht was the Tanda, equipped with engines, and owned by Mr. R A. Prevost, a well-known business man of this city. He had a party of friends aboard, including Sub-Lieut Graham de Chair, son of the Governor of this State. The party had been at Broken Bay. about 30 aniles north of Sydney, for the week-end and was returning to Port Jackson early on Monday morning. When the Tanda was off Long Reef, about seven milea from the Heads, two huge whales, of the blackback variety, and a smaller one, were seen about 150 yards from the yacht, on the port bow. They then disappeared, and interested watchers on the landa’s deck were surprised a few minutes later to see them leap out of the water in front of the vessel, and within 20 vards of it. The two larger whales, Mr. Pre. vest said, were between 50ft. and 60ft. long. Full speed ahead was rung aboard the yacht, which was swung to the starboard. The whales then passed astern.

Sub-Lieut. de Chair was the first to notice the calf, which kept close to its mother’s fin.

Mr Prevost said that his party had a . , nari ’ow escape, for whales were vicious in the calving season, and apt to take all precautions against p<issible aggressors. He had, he said, lost no tisnp in leaving their neigh bourhood Each of tne whales must have washed at least 70 tons, and falling from the height to which they leap iroin the sea, could easily wreck a yacht of the Tanda’s si#/, to say nothing of the skirts in which dozens of fishijg parties venture miles ofi shore every week-end.