WHALES IN THE HARBOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 4, 5 January 1920, Page 4

WHALES IN THE HARBOUR.

A3? JJ'XUSUAL PvOIKEXT. Much excitement was manifest at Kohimaramara. • yesterday, afternoon when what at first eight appeared to be a shark was descried from the beach. A spout of water following the appearance of the big fieh, however, proved it to be a whale. Word quickly passed along the beach, which was soon lined with spectators, who became- greatly excited as, intermittently, the whale shot aopray of water into the Air. A number of people who were d ; sporting themselves in the '•'briny" hurriedly left the water ■in alarm, while others contemplating a "dip" suddenly changed their minds and retired to dress again. 'When first noticed the mammal was ■but a few hundTed feex from -the beach, and at one time came quite close to a sailing boat at anchor. It then turned. and made for Rangitoto, in which vicinity it remained for tome time, blowing as ■before. . At this stage it was observed that it had been joined by another whale, for two distinct forme appeared to view above the surface of the sea, and two columns of spray appeared at intervals. After a while the strange visitants disappeared, apparently moving in the direction of Motutapu. The length o£ the whales seen could not have been more than twelve feet. This is a comparatively small size, since the larger members of the family measure nearly one hundred feet. They are chiefly hunted for their oil and baleen, or whalebone. Ambergris, from which certain perfumes are manufactured, is also cbtained from the -"perm whale.