A NARROW ESCAPE

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 32, 11 February 1929, Page 2

A NARROW ESCAPE

ENCOUSTEIt WITH WHALE. "THERE SHE BLOWS." That, call might have delighted the whalers of Jervis Bay, hut the appearance Of a' huge 50-foot humphack whale under the keel of a 33foot launch, was sufficient to strike terror into the hearts of six fishermen in Jervis Bay recently, says 'the Sydney Sun. ThEy did the 'obvious thing. With the huge monster diving beneath the frail vessel, and stirring the water to foam, they drew anchor and sped for the shore.

The incident happened at the month of the hay at 9 a.m. on January 13. The crew of the launch consisted of amateur fishermen, Messrs J. Muller, A. Brown, and J. Bolt, three well-kn'own city hairdressers, Mr N. Covane, of Nowra, Constable White of Central Police Station, and Mr Prank Dent, th/3 owner of the vessel. The whole was first noticed cruising around the mouth 'of the bay, but, according to Mr Muller, n 0 notice was taken of it, until suddenly its great arched back reared itself beside the launch.

"I actually had my fishing line upon its back," declared Mr Muller," and I could see the barnacles glistening beneath me. The hoat was rocking violently, and I don't mind admitting that most of us had the 'wind up.'

"Suddenly it dived beneath us, and in a welter of foam shot up a few feet, on" the other side of us. Mr Covane; reached for a huge boathook, not unlike a harpoon, and was about to throw it, when Mr Dent called out, "For God's sake put that down. Get the anchor up and let us get in." Again the m'onster dived. It seemed to be trying to rub the barnacles off its great back.

"There was no hesitation now," added Mr Muller. "We went. Luckily the monster did not come after us, and when in the shelter of the bay we could see it spouting and turning in the distance. It was a narrow escape. Heavens knows what would have happened if the whale.had got us."

Mr Frank Dent, the proprietor of the launch, and an old resident of Jervis Bay, told the fishermen that foe had never seen or heard of anything in the neighbourhood to compare with the incident. Meanwhile the six fishermen are wandering which are the more dangerous —whales or sharks.