PELORUS JACK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10301, 2 August 1911, Page 7

PELORUS JACK.

A MEMORY OF EARLY DAYS.

Of 'late years much has been said and written, concerning Pelorus Jiack; but never before, '.so far as we know, have the circumstances canim&cted wrifth. hiis fir sit appearance been, narrated. Chatting with Captain W. 'K. Turner, of Nelson, a "■Maul" reporter gathered some iiir iterestiimg information' in regard to thle Fish Pilot who has' mounted guard ini the Plelorus Sound and near 'the French Pass, over a. very long period, and whoso fame has now spread far and wide. It was forty years ago that Pelorus Jack was first seen, sand Captain. Turmer. At that time. Captain Turner wa,s the master of a, cutter called the "Southern Cross," which wo« a regular trader to the Sound. Ho had made many parages to t.he Sounds, with nothing mare 'tibia n the usual incidents connected with such a voyage, until one day when on hris way to Ma.naJ roa. for wcol, variety was afforded by ; the appearance of a big fish. At the time tire cutter was off Harding Point, at the north-west entrance to Pelorusi Sound, and the stranger oame up and lay alongside the cutter. Captain. Turner says that at one time the fish was so close that it could have bean touched. . He I gwias the length at from •25 to 30 ! fleet, and on tlhis he is supported by I Mr "W. Harvey, of the Pelarus, who | I was also on board ■ the • outter. , "Jack's" length has. always been e&tiimiaited at .much less than that givea* (by Captain Turner, but as no one has had such a cloce view as Captain; Turner, and fibrose with hiiim on that occasion., there is some ground for assuming that the. greater • length i® correct. When the j ger came alongside, Captain- Tur- I ner's first thought was that it was a wfaaio caltf, and, as the cutter earttod 'harpoons, these were got in. readiness with a view : to capture. However, persuaded by women who were on board, "Jack's" life Vvias spared: Al lithat day and wight the fislli remained about the cutter, and during the whole, of the. following day, while the ''Southern Cross" was at anchior, he was never far away. But during the second might he took hi© departure, and was not again seem for several months. When. next, seem' PeAorus. Jack was off Lewis Island, some fourteen/ or fifteen males up the Sounds'. Here, Captaim Turner states, "Jiack" remained for about twenty years. Then he began' to pay attenition to passing steamers, has haunts being between. Forsyth Island and Clay Point,