RECORD KILL

Grey River Argus, 29 July 1940, Page 9

RECORD KILL

COOK STRAIT WHALING. BLENHEIM, July 26. A new record of captures for the season hag been established by the Tory Channel whalers who yesterday killed their .eighty-fourth whale, beating thf> previous best figure, established last year, of 81. Ther e is still more than a fortnight to go before the season ends and on the Dresent successes, it looks as though J. A. Perano and his party will establish a record that will stand for a very long time. The weather this season has favoured whaling operations, and it has been mainly due to the good weather in Cook Strait that th e party has been abl e to effect so many valuable catches. Last season’s record was equalled and then surpassed by the capture of four whales on Wednesday and another one yesterday. Congestion at the factory in Tory Channel which last week prevented the chasers going out for two days, has po.w been relieved, jand there is ample room on the slipways for more catches.

The chasers had to go far from the base on Wednesday, when two whales were successfully harpooned five miles out in Cook Strait and another was not finally captured until near Island Bay. This one evaded

the gunners at the first shot and mediately headed in th e th„ Wellington coast. An exciu-ig chase ensued until the chaser got m another shot