NEWS FROM THE NORTH

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 17, 16 January 1858, Page 3

NEWS FROM THE NORTH

The intelligence from the northern part of Hawke's Bay is of a gratifying character. We recently mentioned the taking of three fish off the Wairoa; and have now to chronicle the capture, in all, of twenty three — not sperm, as we at first supposed, but scamperdown. This, however, is a considerable windfall to the enterprising whalers of the Bay. Several of the fish tryed out l| tuns each, but the average, we understand, will be about l£. They have been divided as follows : — Morrell's party, 7 ; Bartlett's, 6 ; Carroll's. 5 ; Morris', 1 ; Harrington's (better known as Shiloh), 2 ; Smith's, 2.

It is well known that the pursuit of whaling is one of no ordinary hazard ; and the Hawke's Bay whalers have had their share share of hair-breadth escapes. In the first part of the scamp^rdown season (ahout the middle of December), Campbell, when in tow of a fish, got carried out of the boat by the line taking a turn round his lag — the boat being swept at the same time. He managed, however, when under water to extricate his leg, and to come to the surface. On another occasion the line fouled in Harrington's boat, taking a turn round

a lad's neck, and nearly strangling him. The boat was capsized, and, as in the other case, the whale lost ; but nothing serious resulted from the accident.

The Zillahj it appears, had a very narrow escape. On losing her mainsail she got temporary refuge under the reef off Barrett's ; but had the gale blown an hour longer, nothing could have saved her.

The Uncle John was at the Waikokopu when our informant left; and was to sail for Napier immediately on her return.