WHALE V. SHARK

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1931, Page 2

WHALE V. SHARK

A TERRIFIC FIGHT. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 9. The exciting and unusual sight of a fight between a thrasher shark and a Avhale was seen between Mona Island and Plimmerton, by Mr H. B. France, of Plimmerton, yvho says that the bvhale AA’as a large’ one, and it evidently was hard pressed. The whale frequently shot out of the Avater and dropped back Avith a great splash and an audible crash. ,Sometimes its great flukes rose into the air and descended Avith a smack on the Avater as it tried to cripple the thrasher. Xoav and again the tail of the thrasher came out to whip round and struck like a flail. Sometimes the struggle gave the impression of a sea serpent Avjth the nose and the long back of the Avhale above the surface, and the sinuous tail of the thrasher apparently adding length to it. * The fight continued for about an hour. Sometimes the Avhale sounded but it kept mostly on ‘ the surface. It Avas bloAving frequently and Avas making a larger cloud of. vapour than usual. No finality apparently was reached while they were in sight and a few days after the first- fight, what seemed to be the same combatants', AA-ere again .seen moving south, between North Head; and Mona Island. This encounter Avas described by ‘Mr J. Foster, Avho saw it from a launch close up, as a great and very exciting struggle.