WHALE v. SHARK

Grey River Argus, 10 November 1931, Page 5

WHALE v. SHARK

TERRIFIC FIGHT Seen Near Wellington (’Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, November 9. The exciting and unusual sight of a light between a thrasher shark and a whale was see n between Mana Island and Piimmerton; by Mr H B. France, of Plinunerton, who say 9 that the whale was a large one, and it evidently was hard pressed. The whale frequently shot out of the water and dropped back with a great splash and an audible crash. Some times its great flukes rose into the air and descended with a smack on the water as it tried to eripple the thrasher. Nc’w and again the tail of the thrasher came out to whip round and struck like a flail. Sometimes the struggle gave the impression of a sea serpent with the nose and the long back of th e whale above the surface and the sinuous tail of the thrasher [apparently adding length to it. The fight continued for about an hourSometimes the whale sounded but it kept, .mostly on the surface. It was blowing frequently and was maldng a larger! cloud of vapour than usual. No finality apparently was reached while they were in slight and a few daysi after the first fight, what seemed to be the same combatants, were again seen moving south, between North Head and Mbna Island. This encounter was described by Mr J. Foster,, who saw £t frctai a launch close up, as a. great and very exciting struggle.