BLACKFISH ASHORE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 221, 15 June 1936, Page 10

BLACKFISH ASHORE

Caught by Falling Tide at Napier

Twenty-nine blackfish, a small species’ of whale, were stranded on Westshore Beach, Napier, early on Friday morning, and employees of the Napier Harbour Board towed them out to sea again. They varied in size from 12ft. to 16ft., and some weighed more than a ton.

Apparently finding the shallow water near the beach to their liking, they camo close in. 'Die falling tide caught them and they were stranded in the sand. Being mammals, they live a long time out of water, witli the result that some of them were still alive in the afternoon. Others were dead, however. and presented the problem as to the best method of disposing of them before they caused a nuisance. A launch was used to tow them our to sea. A thick rope was tied to the tail of each, which was then towed backward to deep water and released. Some returned to the shore and were stranded again. A parry 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. Occasionally they showed aggressiveness when the men tried to roll them back to deeper water. A number could be seen cruising off shore sending up spurts of water and lashing their tails in tlie air.