FIGHT WITH A WHALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9335, 19 October 1893, Page 6

FIGHT WITH A WHALE.

An interesting and exciting sight was recently .afforded the crew of the steamer Dunmore off Sydney Heads, as that vessel was entering the porb from one of the southern harbours. For several days whales had been disporting themselves along this coast, and several had ventured inside Sydney Heads, causing to the ferry steamers' passengers some astonishment, and in a small way proving an attraction to the harbour pleasure trips. It was reserved, however, for the steamer Dunmore's crew to witness the unusual performance of one of these monsters of the deep. As the master of the Dunmore was on the bridge he observed at a distance what be took to be a huge fish lifting high out of the water and quickly coming down with a tremendous splash. The sea appeared to be lashed into a white foam in the locality, and those on board the Dunmore closely watched the ; phenomenon. As the vessel drew nearer the commotion was found to be caused by a thrasher engaging a whale in a fight. - From four to five minutes the crew of the steamer watched the encounter, and believe thab the whale was killed, as it could be seen floating on the top of the sea some time, after. The thrasher was, it is thought, aided by a swordfish, the latter gashing at the whale from below, while the other attacked from above;