WHALE KILLED IN PORT

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13715, 3 October 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

WHALE KILLED IN PORT

The capture of a specimen of the right or black whale was effected in Eden Harbour. New Sooth' Wales, in full view of a crowd of excited onlookers.

The whale was firet eighted off .South Head by the lookout stationed there. The information wa*> communicated by signal fires to Captaih Davidnon. who, with a picked crew, proceeded to the scene, meeting on the ,way some killer*. The whale, by this time had entered the harbour, and was working round the chores of the bay under close surveillance of the main body of killers. These in a semi circular formation kept a lit tie distance from the unsuspecting' whale, watching the monster's movements, bat. cuspending their attack until the arrival of the whal-lxiat.

. Proceeding • leisurely round the fore •bores the whale entered Snug Cove, in whkh '. the wharf ia ' situated. Seeing this, Mr. Boyd-Davidson, with a-scratch crew, put off in another whaleboat, and by, a skilful throw of the harpoon made fast to the whale. A seen? of great excitement coxued. Tbc killers, who hitherto had contented themselves with reconnoitring, now- attacked Uie whale with great fnrr, and a fierce encounter took place within a .<itone> throw of the steamer Eden, lying alongside the wharf. The killers exhibited groat ferocity, and the whale- was >pouting. plung ing, plunging, and bellowing madly in a desperate- attempt n> evade Uie merciless oniUught. Suddenly the whale .»ucee«-ded in - breaking through the cordon of killer». H«>tlr pursued by the latter, it rushed towards; the steamer ly. iri>s at anchor some dictnncc off the wharf. Here- in full view of tin- passengers and crew the desperate combat was remwed. and the second whaTelioat joined in the fray. Tlw whalo turned again. • passing ctose to the end of tb«. wharf. de.<peratcly_fighting it* way round the Cattle Bar Quarantine, and onward until cxnauaed by the repeated lano* thiusis and tho tncesoaw- attack* «»f tin* kill-r». It «uc«:umbed in tlie vicinitv of IWd Town Bay.

Tb>« whJe i» r«tinu»c<l to yield liv or six tons of nil.