SALVAGING THE STRICKEN WHALER.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 28 February 1928, Page 2

SALVAGING THE STRICKEN WHALER.

<•> ——- INVERCARGILL, Last Night. The position of’ the C. A. Larsen is unchanged, but precautions have been taken to prevent any mishaps frdrii ithe heavy weather, the boat 'being tied tore and aft by hawsers, extra lines .also being out m the. port and starboard sides. The vessel has been lightened aft by the discharge of a quantity of ftil which has been transferred to the Sir James Clark Ross. , This afternoon the tug Dunedin lay alongside but pumping operations yore at a standstill, the Larsen’a .pumps being quite able to handle .the necessary water. It is not intended to pump the for ward end of the ship clear until the actual repair work has boon put ;n hamr as i( is feared that if too much water is removed the pressure of the sen will crumple -the l ank tops. ' Two clivers went down again this afternoon and it is now proposed to dig a hole : n the sand under the vessel so that the damage to the hull can be estimated by the divers who can then .walk underneath. A great quantity of oil still surrounds the vessel and to-day the sea along her bows on the starboard side was covered with a great sheet of thick yellow scum like a stagnant pond. ' The work of blowing the sand, from under the ship will bo commenced .this ■week, erections of timber being driven into the bottom to prevent .the incoming tides refilling the hole. It is estimated that it will take ton weeks to -complete the operations and put the plates over the holesThe Sir James Clark Ross will sail for Norway on Wednesday and will carry the captains of the Larsen and and Star Chasers home. The Larsen s men who arc not required at the base will have passages to Nomay arranged at an early date. Mr Rasmussen, a son of one of tile owners of the company, is on board the Larson and will remain at the base a* Price’s Bay’. He stated that he was learning the whaling busines before returning to Norway next year to enter his father’s office. , Ho was signed on the ship’s articles for the trip as au ordinary seaman and had been working on the winches and meat dock. He is a graduate of a Norwegian University. “It is great experience,” ho saio. “ but it is certainlv hard work. Still