PELORUS JACK.

Southland Times, Issue 16692, 22 March 1911, Page 5

PELORUS JACK.

HIS DEATH FEARED. (Per United Press Association). ■WELLINGTON, March 21. This afternoon Mr Allport, Secretary for Marine, received a letter from G. Webber, a settler at the French Pass, in which he said that Wells Bros, of Durville Island had found what they believe to be the carcase of Pelorus Jack. Webber, who has seen Jack many hundreds of times, was asked to Identify the remains, and as a result the opinion was expressed that the colour, size and shape exactly correspond with what they had seen of the fish in the water. The length of the carcase is, they just one inch under 14 feet, and the girth is between 9 feet and 10 feet. “I should say.” says Mr Webber, “that he has been dead for a week or ten days, and has been considerably bitten by sharks, probably after death.” The Department has sent instructions to take photographs of the fish and secure the skeleton till the Hinemoa can call for it. The Department is also requesting masters of passing vessels to ascertain if Pelorus Jack is frequenting his usual haunts. JACK ALIVE AND FRISKY. NELSON, March 21. The “Colonist” is In the position to contradict the report as to the death of Pelorus Jack. Mr W. ‘T . f Bond, of Nelson, who returned home by the Pateena to-day, states that he and others saw Jack in the water on Monday night, and that he followed the Pateena for miles. Mr Bond has seen him many times: but never saw him so frisky as he was on Monday night. WELLINGTON. March 21. In reference to the report of a dead fish being believed to be Pelorus Jack, it Is stated by officers on the Pateena, which arrived in Wellington to-night, that Pelorus Jack was seen on Saturday afternoon as usual when the Pateena was on the passage from Nelson to Picton. and on Monday night the lookout man on the Pateena saw Jack accompany the vessel from twenty past nine till ten to ten. Pelorus Jack was also seen by some passengers this afternoon.