PELORUS JACK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1009, 24 June 1911, Page 4

PELORUS JACK.

STORIES IN ENGLISH PAPERS.

New Zealand's famous fish, Pelorus Jack, is gradually becoming an international celebrity. The erroneous report of his death a few months ago produced quite a crop of obituary notices in the English papers. Most of the information published was more interesting than accurate. The Mancuester Guardian’s London correspondent, usually a sober and well-informed writer, indulged in the following flight:— “So Pelorus Jack, the only fish in the world that was specially protected by an Act of Parliament, is dead. He waited on ships outside the Sound and piloted them up to Wellington, keeping ahead, dead in the centre of the channel, all the way. He was the last of his race, and the news that his body has been found partly eaten by sharks will be mournful tidings to scientists as well as to sailors. Sailors all over the world knew of Pelorus Jack, and disbelieved in him until they saw him. Many a to’c’sle fight has been caused by this famous fish, for his existence was an article of faith to those who had sailed in Antipodean seas, and an old wife’s tale to the Western ocean men. The other day I was talking with a sailor who had just returned from New Zealand, and had had a curious adventure with t Pelorus Jack less than six months ago. He was sailing in a brig that had been trading in the Polynesian Islands. When they reached the Sound there was a good slant of wind, and the skipper decided to beat up to Wellington. Now, this was a thing that was rarely done, as most of the ships are steamers, and sailing ships usually wait tor tugs at the entrance, the wind being rarely favourable and the channel being unsate for the usual big sailer. Pelorus Jack was waiting tor them, and started off ahead in the centre of the channel as usual. When he lound the brig heading on shore he shifted his course and swam up and then headed for midchannel again. Eluding his lead still disregarded, he began to move along in some agitation, which increased after the brig had put about, sailed through midchannel, and away to the other side. The fish then became very excited, and began to lash the water and plunge one way and then another. Ultimately Jack gave up, and left to her late this unaccountable ship that would not keep in the proper place. But possibly his heart was broken, and I am sure that my sailor friend, for one, would give the brig’s behaviour as the true cause of his death.”

The Daily Mail also drops a tear over poor Jack's corpse, but its remarks are quite prosaic compared with those of the Guardian. It says:—‘‘Everybody who has sailed up the Sound into the harbour of Wellington, New Zealand, will hear with regret of the death of Pelorus Jack. This famous dolphin has for years acted as the pilot of ships, and his loss will be deplored not only by New Zealanders but by travellers. . . . ‘‘A correspondent writes : ‘ When the King, who was then the Duke of York, was making his last visit to New Zealand, I was one of the company. As we approached Wellington we were told by the sailors that our warship would be met in the Sound by an extraordinary pilot, in the shape of a dolphin. We treated the story as a sailor’s yarn, but, sure enough, when we entered the Sound, there was the famous fish (which must have been about roll long) speeding before us and showing us the way. It is due to ‘‘Pelorus Jack” to say that he was not tempted from his duties as pilot by food thrown overboard. He took his business seriously, and not until we were at anchor did he give any heed to the hospitality 01 the crew.’ ”