THE OKARITO WHALE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 254, 20 July 1908, Page 10

THE OKARITO WHALE.

"AN EXPEDITION TO CUT OUT HIS SKJ r ,LETQN.,.. .. . (Ei TELEOBArn,—srEqiAtr cotinESPOSDEXT.) v . Chrlstchurch; July 18. ; Tho big whalo that' was cast ashore' at Okarito some five' or six months ago has boon' purchased, asr it lies •on the beach, by Mr."Edgar F.'Stead,. of Christchurch, and a Wellington gentleman, who has joined him in the; venture! ;• Tho price' is' not mentioned, but;'it is understood to :be' a vat's : small .proportion " of.! the : total-c6st : ' 'of ' i; lahding '.- tho skeleton:. at Lyttelton. Tho future destination of the skeleton ,is also unknown'; at present; but 'any- museum that'secures 'it will liavo a prize, for there _ are only one or two: skeletons-' ot the size -in ' the-' museums of tho world. .The whale is 87ft. long, and about 16ft: : through, and'weighs fsome 100 tons ; and,'; as it-has been dead quite a .long while, 1 the' odour of. dead; : .whale. is'said to bo distinctly noticeable in' tho ' vicinity or anywhere within a radius of a quarter" of. a mile. Mr.' Stead, will leave here on'Tiiei- , day with three!" friends; to' underCak'e Vtho, task of securing'the skeleton, a. job whibli will be all' the;' more , difficult as, part: of tho animal. is:buried .sis ,feet deep' in tho sand , that has drifted round it. Tho party are': taking" an extensive:'assortment'of : gorse and li?y knives, mud rakes', .block! and'tacklo. and rcpes, and a good,' supply: '.of Jeyes' .' fluid. - They intend to. camp fairly , close' to. the sceno bfj action, which' is six iniles fr.ora the Okarito township, and they expect to be.away about.five' weeks.