PELORUS JACK AND PILOT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 27 June 1911, Page 2

PELORUS JACK AND PILOT.

REMARKABLE STORIES IN THE ENGLISH PAPERS. New Zealand's famous fish Pe-< lorus Jack is gradually becoming an international celebrity. The erroneous report of his death a few months ago produced quite a crop of obituary notices in the English papers. Most of the information published was more interesting than acurate. The "Manchester Guardian's" London correspondent', usually a sober and well-in-formed writer, indulged in the following flight:— "So Pelorns Jack, the only fish in the world that was specially protected by an Act of Parliament, is dead. He waited on ships: outside the Sound and piloted them up to Wellington, keeping ahead, dead" in the centre of the channel, all the way. He was the last of his race, and the news that his body has been found partly eaten by sharks will be mournful tidings to scientists as well as to sailors. Sailors pll oyer the world knew of Pelorus Jac!k and disbelieved in him until tlrey saw. him. Many a fo'e'sle fight has been caused by this iamous fish, for his existence was an article 'of faith to those who had sailed in --iiitippdean seas and an Old wife's tale to the Western ocean men. The other day I was talking to a-sailor who had just returned from New Zealand, and had had a curious adventure with Pelorus Jack less than six months ago. He was 'sailing in a brig that been trading in the Polynesian Islands. W.hen they reached J the £?ound there was a good slant of wind, sad the skipper decided to beat up to Wellington. Now this was a thing that was rarely do.ne, as- most of the skips are steamers, and sailing ships usually wait for tugs at the entrance, the wind being rarely favourable andi the channel being quite unsafe for the usual big sailer. Pelorus Jack was waiting for them, and started off ahead in the centre of the channel as usual; When he found the brig heading on shore he shifted his course ' and swam up, and then headed for mid'.channel again. Finding hi s lead still disregarded, he began to move ; along- in some agitation, which increased after the brig had put about, ' sailed through mid-channel, and away to the other side. The fish then became very excited and began to lash the water and plunge one way and . then another. Ultimately Jack gave up, and left to lier fate this xin'acGouditfible ship that -would not Iceep in t'he proper place. possibly his heart was- broken, and-1 am sure that niy sailor'friend, for one, would give the brig's- behaviour as the true cause of ,his death.''

The "Daily Mail" also drops a tear over poor Jack's corpse, but its remarks are quite prosaic compared with those of the "Guardian." It says: —i"OEveryibbdy who has sailed up the Sound into the harbour of Wellington, New Zealand, will hear with regret of the death of 'Pelorus Jack,' This famous dolphin has for years acted as the pilot of ships .and his loss will be deplored not only by New Zealanders but by travellers. . . ."

"A correspondent writes: 'When the King, who was then the Duke of York, was making his last visit to New Zealand, i was one of the co-m_ pany. As we approached Wellington we.were told by tlie sailors that our warships would b„e met in the Sound by an extraordinary pilot, in the shape of a dolphin. "We treated the story as a sailor's yarn, but, sure enough, when we entei'ed the Sound, there was the famous fish (which must have been about 10ft long) speeding before us, and showing ut s the way. It is due to "OPelofus Jack" to say that he w T as not tempted from his duties as pilot by food thrown overboard. He took his business seriously, and not until we were at anchor did he give any heed to the hospitality of the crew."