EXCITING FIGHT WITH WHALE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1918, Page 6

EXCITING FIGHT WITH WHALE.

Sydney, August 28. Whales in considerable numbers are being reported from various parts of the eastern coasts, and the community of whalers at Twofold Bay is endeavouring to reap the usual harvest. Unhappily, these men have only an oar-propelled boat and antiquated .sear, and two valuable whales have escaped from them in the past fortnight. On the first occasion the whale was driven by killers into a little cove near Eden, whence escape did not seem possible. Word was sent to the whaling station, and three hours afterwards the boat arrived- Tt was able to get within a few feet of the monster, but, as one expert said, "All they could do was to give it a few pinpricks, and pot at it with an antedeluvian gun." The whale took alarm, and, after a most determined chase by the whalers, the creature, worth £9OO, escaped to open sea. The second disappointment was heartbreaking. A large "bumper" whale, with a calf was reported in the bay, and wan attacked by the wh.alers. The calf was soon killed, but the mother gave some trouble. After a sharp chase the harpoon was made fast, and the whale made off at a great speed, towing the boat. Presently the boat struck a sijomerged rock, one of the crew was thrown overboard, ttie bow was stove in, and the the line had to be cast off.

Another boat was secured, and the men returned to the chase. The harpoon - er again made fast, and the whale rushed off into the hay. It seemed about to pass between the piles of the wharf, and the line was again cast off. The whale missed the structure by a few feet and started for the open sea. The whalers managed to pick up the line, and tried to lanee the leviathan, but the creature only increased its speed. It dashed into the northern bay, and here the killers—the small, savage whales which prey on the 'humpbacks and fin-backs—took a hand. A fearful struggle commenced. Tiie whale resisted madly, almost overwhelming the boat with foaming water. One of the chocks holding the line gave way, and the line, slipping, jerked two men overboard. This was a critical moment—the men- struggling in the water and the whale-killer fight going on a few yards away. The men were rescued, and the whalers, with indomitable perseverance, tackled the whale again. The whale, towing the boat, made off at terrific speed, tiiis time straight out to sea. The men hung 011 for some time, but they could not check the monster. They were completely exhausted, having now been engaged in the struggle for ten hours. They fvere reluctantly compelled to sever the line and let it go. The whale disappeared out to sea. Scores of people gathered along the shore during the day to wa'tch this remarkable battle.