PERILS OF WHALING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4520, 26 January 1923, Page 1

PERILS OF WHALING.

“CHEWED UP.” CAPTAIN’S EXPERIENCES. Whaling from open bpats on the high seas has its own peculiar perils, states Catpain H. F. Cook, master of the Hananui 11, who has had fifty years” experience in this particular line. Only once, he says, has he had his boat “chewed up.” That was when he was serving in the Especulador, reports the “New Zealand Herald.” Off the Kermadec Islands they were after a big “lone” bull whale, a type which may be likened tp a “rogue” elephant. The harpoon had been sent into him, when he turned in auger on Captain Cook’s boat. He came at it open-mouthed, and bit it clean iu two. The men were all thrown into the water, but. none was injured’ or drowned. Two other of the Especuladpr’s boats were in the vicinity at the time, and the huge bull put. both. of these out of actioiOne he stove in with his flukes, and the other he broke with his teeth, but not sufficiently to sink it. The men in the water were all picked up, and the whale then disappeared from the scene. “That was a bad-tempered fish,” said Captain Cook, “and it was the nearest escape I even had. It was touch and go.” e