WHALING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 302, 15 September 1908, Page 9

WHALING.

A KYIKOTOA-INCIDENT! . On and off for the past forty-five years 'whaling has helped' to'support .-many families resident iji Kaikoiira;! TIIO season when tho whales'lpui in an-appearance is usually from Mify. "t6"the .end. .'of September. . This year. ;tjiings ;have 1 been-particularly; bad, aud so « Jar j-.bowhales -•• have" fallen victims . to the 'wfialersV"Torl>a: number of years' only two 1 ' boats"; h'ave !bbon , engaged at Kaikoura ill Iwhaliiig; and-these were manned by "Maoris • and half-castes. '• This year, however,- a ■ Yl?akeh"a " boat' is - also taking part, and th'e" "'old-timers " attribute tho loss .of tho 'only' two' right-whales, sighted'to the inexperienced- new-comers.' : It appears that a largo'and' a small whale were sighted ill : S6nth L "BaJ\." The Maori crew got fast to-the big-'whale,;-and the.-inexperienced crew managed to secure 'a slight hold of tho smaller 'oner*""ln^'tho-.struggle" which ensued, tha behtS ' 1 Collided, ..with the result that both 'whales; were lost. Since-'then-.(early last : month)' hone have,ibeen sighted, _ and the. 'to'tal'lo"ss"bf tho, .two. whales Js estimated at 'h'biitit "£I2OO. ' . ■ " The. experienced- whaler is able to dis'tinguislT instantly between a" right " and a I'.'huinifbSck'"- whalo'..' The right whale is '(Slack a'll'oVer,.and.although the oil is not so i : hluable, the rwhalebone • realises £1200 to £1500 per ton.. This, is usually' shipped to London'-per' agents, and changes hands there. whale .oil extensively in their busincssi'-and KaikoUra-agents are. at present receiving• orders ■ which-; tliey! are- dubious of being able"to filliihis season.-. ~ • The hump-back whale is-distinguished by a triangular 7 fin, somewhat ■ ;.resembling a shark's-fin, and has a silver-liko belly. From this species a much fmor- and moro profitable oil 'is' secured,-liut the whalebone is practic--lally,.,W()rthlcss...:;, Being triangular 'in shape, .. itj is,' cult to-got;-;it to cut-straight, and, ".nii-.adclitibri; it. is very brittle. In fact, tho jvunipTliack,,whale ij' only, secured for tho oil, ami puly.on rare* occasions has {lie .whalebone "been luu'clied, 'and 'tlieii without appreciable rfifsiiltsV-l",'A- Kaikoura.- resident informed a- - that, but for the running foul of the Maoris' " tlie''latter „ crcw would have secured the •' Tagger right whale, mentioned above, and-it' .such! satisfactory, dimensions that it Vpuld - have made a., satisfactory sea-son-s'wiialiiig.--; .