CHARGE OF PORPOISES

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1926, Page 4

CHARGE OF PORPOISES

A THRILLING SPECTACLE. VKB Y UK K A MILITARY ITH'RXA.MKXT. AX KYKNTKL'L ( Iff IKK. AHCMCI/A.VI), -March 17. Concerted action by a large school of porpoises in the fishing otf Alderman islands. Bay of Plenty, was observed by four Aucklanders, when cruising in those waters recently. .Mr A. \V. Gillies recounts his experience in a letter as follows: ■■ We were lazily sailing along about a mile off the south-eastern corner of the islands when we saw a remarkably large school of porpoises slowly moving a log. The end of tile school came verynear to our boat. Suddenly a. large porpoise.- evidently the leader, jumped out of the water and as lie came down struck the water with great force, throwing up a shower of spray. " Immediately, like cavalry forming line to front, the whole school deployed on the lender, and from him into the distance at least two miles away stretched a. long straight line. bike the leader all the porpoises beat the water into one great wall of spray. Then they commenced to travel in line towards the south at terrific speed, all the time throwing up their glistening white wall of spray. "The action was electrical and thrilling, and now above the school although wo had seen few birds previously. there gathered hundreds of seabirds, following the line and dashing down for fish. From, high above gulls, petrels and lordly gannets kept diving all along the line. We watched tiie wonderful scene with straining eves until it faded into the distance.

•• Xo doubt tiie object was to beat up small fish by concussion of the water. The plav of swordfish and tlte giant jump of the large mako are very fine sights, but neither impressed me like tln's charge of tiie porpoises.”