WHALE IN HARBOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 34, 9 February 1935, Page 11

WHALE IN HARBOUR

FISHERMEN---STARTLED

INSPECTOR; TO SEARCH

A fish story, which is'gaining credence as more arid more fishermen tell it, is to the effect that there is a whale in the harbour, says, the "Auckland Star."' -The-first to-sec- the- monster were Messrs. G. W. Urquhart and'W. Watson,, of Devpnport. - ; ..--.-.-. . •.. They were fishing' off the North Head about midday on Tuesday,' -when they were startled to see a- huge dark bulk about 30 feet long rise slowly from the water not 40 yards from their dinghy. It sent a stream of .water about 15-feet into the air.' '....■ :: "Ar first we thought that the. sun was having some' effect ori our eyes," said Mr. TJrquliart.-^'and' we signalled the launch Dawn to come to our assistance. As the; launch approached- the whale'sounded.' A little later it ap-peai-ed in the'channel of theharbour. Just at this time the Aorattgi steamed down the harbour.'.The whale spouted, apparently in fright, arid disappeared in the direction :.of -RangitotoV .; ■' "Of course, none .of our-friends believe the story, but several- yachtsmeu, in addition to the crew of the Dawn, saw the'monster." "'■ -: - '- '.'•".: ':.'' : - SIGHTED^ AGAIN. '[■" .^V'. Oji Wednesday the whale .was repprtedfrom a:"place as high up the-harbour as Pine Island/ - Two fishermen- in a dinghy about a quarter \of: a.-mile off the Island ;Bay wharf- were nearly, capsized by the wash made wlieij it canie.up to spout. " '': :: -.: "We were fishing at low"tide in abpiit 20 feet of water when-our attention was drawn to a disturbance in the water," said, one of the fishermen,' Mr. A. E. Evans.'- "We;thought 'iti was a school of blackfish/but we-TeceLvfid a shock wheri.a long black body emerged fronv -the sea.-1 sertdirig upl: spouts,- of water. The- boat "was-rocked v by"-a heavy, wash, and we lost, no tune .Jn making for the shore. The sea was dead calm, and the nidnster created a lot of cbmmbtion bS 1-slapping a::large fluked-tail. There was no rdoubt. it was a-whal.e."-'-" :.'■.. '■■'■" :•'-' . --s-.-.?.■' - '■' A~resident" who" was ■standirig.'onf the Onetaunga Wharf:iate in the afternoon said that;he saw/the whale .cruismgdn the vicinity, thrashing -the :water. with its tail. It had'a "blunt'nose and large tail, aadiwas-about"3ol feetlorig:;:*.: ■-.-.;:■ ;" The'- superintendent ■; 'at ~ Mercantile MarmeiSGaptain' -W. -"Wilcox,:-said,;.-ffiat the fisheries''-inspefctor^. 'Captain.:-'.C. Dahielj- ;was 'ieaving -"ijy laanch;.iri:..an endeavour i.6; locate- the whale. As :the upper: harbour -was- toO shallow- for- a whale .to sound -'the v s\ipefintehdent thpughfthat if would sdon' either, leave the harbour or become stranded: Until he'liad a definite report fronr the fisheries- inspector rid. pfficlalcwarning to-small craft-wbiild be. issued.-: j. •..-. ~ It _is .three years sinCe;:a'whale: has been: seerinear ■'Auckland.: '-On' Februafy 6.1932; a; whale; estimated tobe=so feet long, was sighted two miles.north of Rangitoto Beacon. ; It did hot enter the harbour, and-soon made off to the op'en sea. : •■■■'■" ' ::' : ;':- : ; :I'-';-..:..-' W^liales go ■' .riqrth from .^Antarctica about- this time" fof I the;year.tto .breed in/tj-ppical waters; ■'- arid-'Jitr.:is;;b'elieyed' that they htig"the"Coast in an lendeavour tc^^sci'ap'e oft\hk 'barnacles rcollected.in th'e_SOuth; ; :' ' ;-'-i ■- 'X "■' ■•" ■■'■ ' :•'?:!' -'. : '