SMALL WHALES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 13

SMALL WHALES.

FOUND ON NAPIER BEACH. TOWED OUT TO SEA AGAIN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NAPIER, Friday. Twenty-nine blackfish, a small species oi whale, were stranded on Westsliore Beach, Napier, early tliis morning, and employees of the Napier Harbour Board have been towing them out to sea again. They vary in size from 12ft to 10ft, and some weigh over a ton. Apparently finding the shallow water near the beaeh to their liking, they came close in. The falling tide caught them and they were stranded in the sand. Being mammals, they live a long time out of water, with the result that some of tliem were still alive this afternoon. Others were dead, however, present the problem as to the best' method ol disposing of them before they cause a nuisance. A launch was used to tow them out to sea. A thick rope was tied to the tail of each, which was then towed backwards to deep water and released. Some returned to the shore and were stranded again. A party of fishermen stripped the blubber off one with a view to boiling it down for"' oil. The carcase was removed immediately. As the blackfish writhed in the shallow water they made noises not unlike the bark of a dog.