Killer Whale In Auckland Waters

Northern Advocate, 13 October 1949, Page 5

Killer Whale In Auckland Waters

AUCKLAND, Thu. (P.A.).—A killer whale is marauding among the islands outside the Waitemata Harbour. It was seen twice yesterday near Rangitoto and last week nearer Waiheke Island. No attempts have been made to catch it. The killer is the ferocious “black sheep’’ of the cetacean family. It was first reported by a fishing party off the northernmost end of Waiheke Island last week. At first it was mistaken for a sunfish, but a closer look identified its distinctive appearance—about 22ft long, dark in colour and topped by an erect triangular fin about 4ft high. Yesterday morning launchmen saw the whale off Rangitoto wharf and in the evening it was seen cruising about in Motuihi Channel. COME FROM ANTARCTIC. Killer whales have been seen in the Hauraki Gulf before. In the spring and summer many of them migrate northwards from their home on the fringe of the Antarctic icecap, often congregating in numbers in Cook Strait. Killers feed on fish, porpoises, seals, penguins and other whales. One killer caught and opened during an expedition in the Antarctic had 14 seals and 13 porpoises in its stomach. Seals and penguins are caught by bumping and breaking icefloes and knocking the prey into the water. Herbert Ponting. photographer on Scott’s last expedition to the Pole, nearly suffered the same fate. He was attacked in the same way but was able to jump to safety as the ice broke up under his feet.

41 Hoors In Shark Infested Sea

SYDNEY. Thu. (1 p.m.)— Working bv searchlight, seamen of the migrant ship General A. W. Greely, rescued a woman two and a half hours after she jumped into the shark-infested Indian Ocean during the voyage from Europe. A blonde, 25-year-old German woman, married to a Russian, jumped overboard after an argument with her husband. The ship put about and searched in complete darkness until all hope was abandoned. Just as the vessel turned to pick up her course again, a searchlight showed a naked body in the water. A boat was lowered at once and the woman was br&ught aboard, little the worse for her experience. “It was like a miracle,’’ said members of the crew.