WHALING OFF THE COAST OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue II, 14 July 1894, Page 31

WHALING OFF THE COAST OF NEW ZEALAND.

THE VIKING VP NORTH. (SEE ILLUSTRATION. PAGE 34 ) r ' | 'JHE port of Auckland, famed throughout the world for jl itsyachting waters, has many favourite resorts within easy distance of the city, bnt to those yachtsmen who desire a longer ciuise none possesses so much interest as a trip along the northern coast as far as Whangaroa Harbour. En route there are many safe harbours and bays only a few hour’s sail from each other, so that if any bad weather is met with all that is necessary is to run for one of them, and drop anchor till the gale is over. Bon Accord Harbour, at the Kawau Island, so well-known to yachts men, Omaha Bay, Whangarei, Tutukaka, Ngunguru, Whangarurn, Whangamumu, Bay of Islands with innumerable bays and nooks, and Whangaroa, are all in turn visited by the larger yachts during the summer, bnt at the end of the summer none perhaps possess so much interest as a trip to Whangamumu to see the whaling operations of the Messrs Cook. About two miles outside Whangamumu Harbour, a curious method has been adopted by the Messrs Cook to capture the leviathan of the deep. Instead of the ordinary way of catching whales with harpoons, etc., the mode of operation adopted to catch the whales is to net them, the same as is done on a smaller scale with mullet, etc. This very unique method of whale hunting aroused the curiosity of those well known yachtsmen, the Bloomfield brothers, and their yacht, the Viking, being all ready equipped for a voyage up north, started away from the moorings off Judge’s Bay, Auckland, with a fine S.W. breeze. Bon Accord Harbour was reached after a fine run of three hours, and it was here the yacht lay at anchor for the night. Early next morning a start was made for Whangarei, but the wind was very light, so that the yacht did not get inside Whangarei Heads till 3 p.m., and then went up the river as far as Marsden Point. Later in the evening she dropped down to Calliope Bay, where she anchored for the night. Next morning broke * clock calm,’ so it was decided to remain at anchor all day, fishing, shooting, etc., around the Heads to pass time away. All hands were roused out early the next morning as a fine southerly breeze was blowing, and it was decided to start straight away for Whangamumu. Soon after passing the ‘ Hen and Chickens ’ a whale was sighted ; not long after two more were passed, so the hopes of all began to rise at the prospect of good sport. A spanking breeze all the way to Whangamumu resulted in the anchor being dropped at 3.30. p.m. This method of catching whales is to get them first meshed in a net, and when they are properly tangled up to use the harpoon and the deadly lance to despatch them. The net is set from the end of a rocky islet about two miles outside Whangamumu along the coast. It seems that about this time of the year the whales leave the southern latitudes and go along the coast of New Zealand, and one of their regular tracks is to pass by this particular rocky islet, and often to pass between it and themainland. Formerly the Messrs Cook used to chase after them in whaleboats, but latterly the idea struck them that if a long strong net were constructed it would be easier to capture them as they passed so close to the Island. A net was made and put out: A huge whale got into it, and Mr Cook says, • didn't he make a mess of it before being captured.’ The hunters then thought this game wouldn’t do, so inventive minds being at work it was decided instead of making one long net to make a number of smaller ones ten fathoms square with a six foot mesh. These being made it was then decided to tie them together with slight rope, so that when a whale got meshed in one particular section it would carry away that small section only, leaving the other ones intact. As may be imagined, strong rope is required for these nets. They are made of two inch ropes spliced into iron rings in lieu of the ordinary net hitch, and are floated by means of ten gallon kegs fastened along the top of the net. The excitement when a whale gets meshed is intense, and when one is seen from the look out on the islet appproaching in the direction of the nets all hands immediately are in the three whaleboats ready for action. Generally the whales cruise in company, so whilst the Viking was there four came along and appeared to be making straight for the net, and fortunately one of them came within its folds and got meshed—then the fun began. The whale first alarmed by the mesh getting firmly fixed over bis head, lashed out furiously with bis tail, and soon broke away the section he was meshed in. He came to the surface repeatedly, and once leaped clean out of the water with the net tangled around his head, and the barrel floats dangling about everywhere. The boats being now iu pursuit, the barpooner stands with his harpoon ready. At the first chance the harpoon is driven in to make fast, the lances are now brought into play to inflict their mortal thrusts. It is dangerous work, but the men know their duty and drive the keen-edged lance deep into the body of the whale. Out spurts blood from the nostrils when the whale * blows,’ indicating that the lance thrust has successfully touched a vital part, and soon after another thrust or two is given, when the whale exhausted from loss of blood turns over and dies.