SOUTHERN WHALING ENTERPRISE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 15

SOUTHERN WHALING ENTERPRISE.

Our Bluff correspondent" writes:-— Although^ nothing is openly stated, it is quite understood there is a southern wnale fishing enterprise on the tapis. A comgany has been formed to equip" the party, and the latter will, it is said, proceed south in the Government steamer Hinemoa on' her next visit to the southern islands. Campbell Island, at which the depot is to be established, will be the centre of operations. That island, it will be remembered, is populated to ?he extent of a sheep run, owned by an enterprising firm from Poverty Bay. Last 6eason the island was visited by a number of persons* outside those interested in the run. Some of them' remained over the period of the steamer trips. It is not at all improbable that this whale scheme is an outcome thereof. The right or black whale, I am told, is to be found in the vicinity of the 'Campbells in gre«.t numbers during the summer months. If favoured with suitable weather, I have good practical authority for adding that a handsome profit to tho6e interested should be a result of these operations. Prompted by. the novelty of the proceeding, I got into communication with one 4 of' the surviving few of „ the old whaling hands. As near as I can recall, this is what he said on the subject generally: — A quarter of a century has elapsed 6ince a whaling vessel visited either the Bluff or Stewart Inland. Prior thereto it was not uncommon to find as many as three, four, and five vessels at anchor in Port William and Halfmoon Bay. It is a pity to find that Avhaling has died_ out so completely. In a few years it will be impossible to find a man versed in the art / An erroneous idea exists that it is owing to the ' scarcity of sperm whales that there are so few vessels employed in the trade. No, that is not the case. It is chiefly on account of the low price paid for oil. It is only about one-third of what Avas paid 30 years ago. In the vicinity of the Solanders, the old and favourite huntinggrounds, sperm whales are still to be found in great abundance, and if a properlyequijjper steamer capable of carrying, say, four boats, Avas fitted out for the pursuit, she would find employment for the best part of the year. What is required is an. up-to-date working plant erected in, say. Preservation or Chalky, Avith a slip laid down. 6O that the steamer engaged could tow -the carcase right tfp to the works, and in that way utilise the whole. EA-ery part would go through the digester, and eA'ery drop of oil be extracted. The bones could then be ground to "dust, and the remaining refuse converted into manure, all of which, would find a ready market in New Zealand. Indeed,, v large quantities of both, manure and bone-dust are being regularly imported from other parrs. A completelyequipped company, does not require a. capital of more than £l0 t OOO to - £12,000. A steamer of 150 tons would answer all requirements. In former days, Avhen -sailing vessels were employed, if a whale was caught in the vicinity of the Solanders it was necessary, if the wind freshened, to run to Port William for trying out, the whale previously having been stripped of blubber and the residue let go. Weeks might elapse before the .ship again reached bhe fishing-ground, and it will be readily seen how great is the advantage of securing steam navigation. There are numbers of young men about who would be only too eager to take part in whaling on hoard a 6teamer. considering they might reckon on being in port almost nightly.