CHASERS ARRIVE

Southland Times, Issue 20012, 28 October 1926, Page 8

CHASERS ARRIVE

ROSS SEA WHALERS PAGODROMA AND KARRAKATTA LONG VOYAGE FROM SANDIFJORD After a voyage of 61 days from their home port, Sandifjord, Norway, two whale chasers belonging to the Ross Sea Company's fleet reached Bluff at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The vessels were the Pagodroma and the Karrakatta, two small steamers of 64 and 79 tons respectively, similar in many respects to the “Star” type of chasers hitherto used in the Ross Sea.

For such tiny vessels the voyage of the Pagodroma and the Karrakatta must be considered an unusual feat even in the annals of whaling. The route was via Suez, the chasers being the first of the Ross Sea whalers to travel »his way. The other vessels have all come through Panama, and thence across the Pacific. The total distance covered by the two chasers was 18,000 miles. They left Sandifjord together on August 18 and experienced fine weather on the voyage across the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. In the Red Sea, however, blistering heat was encountered and the crew, being used to colder conditions, suffered severely. Full bunkers were shipped at Colombo and the vessels set off on the 3,200 mile run to Fremantle—probably the longest trip ever undertaken by a whale chaser without calling at some port. By travelling at a slow speed the supply of coal was conserved as much as possible, but by the time the Pagodroma reached Fremantle only two tons were left in the bunkers. The Karrakatta was in a similar plight. Strong south-east trade winds were met throughout this lap of the journey. The chasers sailed next for Hobart, where the bunkers were again replenished. Departure for Bluff was taken last Sunday and a fine trip was experienced across the Tasman. The vessels brought with them eight bags of Tasmanian mail.

Whales were sighted almost daily in the seas between Fremantle and Hobart and a few were observed during the trip from Tasmania to Bluff. One was seen in Foveaux Straits just outside the port. In appearance the Pagodroma and the Karrakatta are somewhat similar to the Star whale catchers though they are slightly smaller. The vessels are narrow and trim in build and have the appearance of being very speedy. As a matter of fact their normal speed is about ten knots, though they can be pushed up to 12 knots when necessity arises. They are not of very modem type being built 14 years ago. Tall masts, with tiny crow's nests affixed to them 40-ft. above deck, are a striking feature of both boats. It is easy to visualise the conditions that will be experienced by the whalemen who will be stationed in these cramped boxes in the bitterly cold Antarctic waters. On the bow of the vessels is a wooden platform on which the harpooner stands, with the wicked looking gun pointed downwards in front of him. On the foredecks are powerful winches capable of lifting a remarkable weight. Below deck are neatly stored piles of equipment which is required owing to the strenuous nature of the business in which the boats are engaged. Both the Karrakatta and the Pagodramo are equipped with Marconi radio direction finders, which are used in foggy weather when the chasers are out and are returning to the factory ships with whales in tow. They are capable of receiving, but not of transmitting, wireless messages. Owing to the fact that the fleet will be operating within a few hundred miles of the magnetic pole ordinary mariners’ compasses are useless. Prior to being chartered by the Ross Sea Company, the two chasers have been attached to fleets on the coast of Norway, and near Georgia. In the latter ground thousands of whales are killed yearly by the numerous companies operating there. The whaling season extends over a period of six or seven months, as compared with three months in the Ross Sea, while “fish” are much more plentiful than in the latter waters.

The boats will leave Bluff to-day for Patterson’s Inlet where they will join the seven Star chasers that have spent the winter at Stewart Island.