UNIQUE SIGHT

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4417, 20 February 1930, Page 3

UNIQUE SIGHT

SWORDFISH AND WHALE

A FIERCE BATTLE. A fierce battle between a swordfish and a whale was seen from the Northern ICompany’s steamer Hawaii when the vessel was on route from Mangawai to Auckland recently. “Tn all my life at sea I have never seen anything like it,” said Captain Keatley, master of the Hawaii. “We first saw four whales rolling easily along, and then I saw one of them broaching —That is leap right out, of the water. As we drew nearer 'We could see that the whale was in great agony. Time after time it tried to leap clear of (lie wafer, falling hack again each lime in tremendous showers of spray. Once it hurled itself several Loot above the surface, and in the smother of foam from which it had risen we could see the lean shape of a swordfish with its lance upthrust.

“In its attempts, to drive off its at racker, the whale was lashing the surface of the water with its tail, hut it seemed to he very weak. Its whole strength seemed concentra4ed on trying to get right out of the water, but- each time it fell the swordfish was underneath with a thrust for its belly. “The other whales went their leisurely way, apparently oblivious of their companion's danger. They were all hump hacks and of good size. The one that was fighting the swordfish must have been fully 40 feet; long, nearly the maximum size of that species. It is most unusual to find whales so far inside the Gulf, for the spot where the combat took place was about half-way between Bream Tail and Cape Rodney.” Just as Captain Keatley and some of the passengers had got their cameras focussed on the combatants the whale apparently heard the heat of the ship’s screw, and, apparently fearing another attacker, it threw up its tail and sounded. A glimpse was caught of the swordfish as if swirled round mid dived in pursuit. Neither creature was seen again. With its superior speed and armament, it is quite probable that the swordfish finished the battle by .killing the whale before it could return to the surface for another breath.