WHALING SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23661, 21 May 1940, Page 6

WHALING SEASON

START IN COOK STRAIT OIL IN GREAT DEMAND EFFORT TO ENLARGE GATCH [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT^ WELLINGTON, Monday Whaling has begun again in Tory Channel. The first humpback of the new season was sighted at the end of last week passing northbound through Cook Strait. Whalers are now keeping a lookout for the main annual migration, which is expected to begin within the next fortnight; Whale oil is in great demand this year for war purposes. It is used extensively in the manufacture of munitions. Once famous for her whaling grounds New Zealand to-day produces only 400 or 500 tons of oil a year. For some years the only station operating, on the coast lias been that owned by Mr. J. Perano, at Tory Channel. In an endeavour to increase production Mr. Perano will this year operate an extra launch, bringing the Tory Channel whaling fleet up to four chasers and a steam tender. Whales caught in Cook Strait are almost all humpbacks. They come through Cook Strait on their annual migration north to the warm seas, where they breed, from the cold Ross Sea, where they spend the summer months. Up to 40 whales a day pass through tlip strait during "the season. Tory Channel whalemen have taken as many as eight in a day and their season's catch is usually betweeli 50 and 90 whales. They are mostly about 50ft. long, weigh about as many tons, and produce three to six tons of oil each. • " This year it is understood whalers at Norfolk Island and Tonga will take toll of the migrant humpbacks. The Norfolk Island whalers will use the old-fashioned five-oar whaleboats and will catch their whales with hand-thrown harpoons and lances. The Tongan whalers, who have also whaled in the old-fashioned way in the past, will be using a steam chaser formerly stationed at Russell, which went up to the islands about a year ago.