FAST TO A WHALE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 322, 11 July 1912, Page 2

FAST TO A WHALE

EXCITING CHASE. An exciting chase after a whale took place at Kaikoura last week. So far this season few have been' observed passing the Peninsula (says the : Star), but two of them passed close in about noon on the day i n motion A crew, under T. and H. Kcrton, got a , boat out and gave chase, b ein g followed j by Mr. Hinds s launch as tender. Opposite the show ground the boat drew ' within striking distance, and a wellthrown harpoon was driven stiaight and ! deep into a large bull "right" whale ' Immediately there was commotion and ! for the numerous spectators—who bv ! this lime, were clustered on every coign ; of advantage for sight-seeing purposes there was plenty of excitement. In his agony, the 'leviathan" whirled round and round; not a minute elapsed between his gigantic efforts to free himself 0 f that murderous weapon. Coming clc.an out of the water ,he hurled himself head downwards, and his enormous flukes lashed the sea into volumes of spray, Again and again it seemed as if the boat must come to grief, the brute" appeared so desperate and so close. But the crew proved a wary lot; they were fast on to a few hundred pounds, and would try hard not to lose it. A lance, projected well, informed the cetacean that he had -better try other tactics; he did, and away he went southwards (returning on his route) at a furious pace with the boat in tow. And meanwhile the cow was also wending her way back, slowly, about a quarter of a mile from' , the shore. Another and yet another i lance did not deter the captive, but seemed to increase his speed and -his angry iplungings. At times the boat' was dragged through the water at lightning pace, and could scarcely be seen; at others, she was almost stationary, as the whale sounded. Still going south, and fighting for his existence, the whale drew round the Peninsula, and here the ■ southerly choppy sea was fully met. It was impossible to 'hang on,' the boat 1 being every minute in danger of swamping, and reluctantly, the order to "cut" was given. So after a three hours' fight, away went the sorely-smitten leviathan, with harpoon, lances and fathoms ' of line, and a tired crew paddled back j to liarbor. The whale, it is estimated, would have proved" a good six or seven | ton animal—something like £450 worth. |