FIGHT BETWEEN WHALE AND SWORDFISH.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12399, 14 November 1908, Page 3

FIGHT BETWEEN WHALE AND SWORDFISH.

'■'■' *... .' -_. ."•.■- --[United Pkess Association.] Auckland, Nov 13. . On' Wednesday morning those on: the fishing boat Daisy witnessed a fierce fight between a whale and a; swordfish between Ponui Island and Coromaridel. The big cow whale had her calf with her ja'nd she plung- : ed and struck out in all directions • with her. enormous tail. - The fight' raged for some time ,and after a • fruitless dive, the swordfish came up close and made a thrust at the calf, ; but instead received a crushing blow from the mother whale's, enormous flukes across the middle of the back. That blow delivered with many tons of energy behind it settled the swordfish. The swordfish was stunned, apparently and partially^pafalysed by j the blow from the whale, and he ' was killed and hauled on board the . Daisy without much difficulty, while the whale and her calf went off towards Coromandel with triumphant splashing .and plunging. The swordfish was brought to Auckland and was placed in the freezing chambers at the Auckland Farmers' Freezing ; Company's works, where a number of interesteci people assembled to see it. The fish from tail flukes to the . tip of the sword was 12 feet 6 inches in le'ngth, and the sword itself was four feet long, its girth 'at the middle : of the body was. 4 feet 6 inches and put on the scales the huge carcase weighed just on. six hundredweight.