BULLETS KILL WHALE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12078, 18 October 1933, Page 2

BULLETS KILL WHALE

FISHERMAN’S UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE PERSISTENT CALF FOLLOWS FISHING LAUNCH FOR MILES (Press / ssociaticn i. AUCKLAND, Oct. 17. A 60ft. whale was killed between Cape Colville and Great Barrier, Island on Sunday by Air Viv. Wright, of Auckland, in. the fishing launch Outlaw".

Mr Wright had an extraordinary experience. Hfe was using a- seme net when two whales were lighted. He loaded a .303 riflo with sounosed bullets, intending by firing to frighten the whales away. The first bullet struck the larger whale m the vicinty of the fluke. The whale turned over immediately , flapped for a while, and then lay motionless. He fired several more shots, and then took the launch alongside, stepped on the whale’s carcase, and began cutting a hole in the fluke m order to attach a tow line. Then the whale made a violent plunge, and Mr Wright hastily stepped back on to the launch and bred tlio remainder, of the ammuntion. When the whale ceased to struggle, a rope was attached to its tail, but a second smaller whale charged the launch, Mr Wright stabbed it in the nose with a boathook and it swam away.

The launch took eight hours to tow the carcase 12 miles to Wliaugapapapara, and all the way the Small whale followed, charged towards tli© launch, and nosed into the carcase. It was apparently nearly a full-grown calf of the larger whale. Alter beaching the car.case, the launch set out irpni tile harbor and was followed by the calf. Fortyfive shots were fired at it, but as it would not leave, the launch had. to return to the big whale, which has a large harpoon embedded in it. It has been recognised as of the humpback variety.