250 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



p. 297). Guard was succeeded at Te-Awaiti by Messrs Barrett and Thorns, who were 

 also at first without resources and killed the whales only for their baleen (Dieffenbach, 

 1843, p. 39). Later, however, speculators in Sydney supported them with gear and 

 ships for the transport of oil. Besides the two stations of Barrett and Thorns at Te-Awaiti 

 there were others, and one in the adjoining cove Jackson's Bay. The Maoris also from 

 the adjoining "pas" or villages used to pursue whales on their own account with their 

 own boats, selling their captures to the stations for £20 each. All these stations, 

 however, fell into disuse when bay whaling came to an end about 1840. 



The modern station at Te-Awaiti operates only during June, July and August. 

 There is no second appearance of the Humpback whales during October and November 

 as at Whangamumu, apparently because they do not pass through Cook Strait during 

 their southward migration. In June, July and August they are travelling northwards, 

 as at the Bay of Islands, and appear in Cook Straits usually on the flood tides. Mr Perano 

 said that most of the whales taken by his station are bulls. Such cows as are caught are 

 carrying large foetuses about 14 ft. in length. A few Southern Right whales are taken, 

 especially towards the end of the season. 



The method of capturing and killing the Humpbacks which Mr Perano employs is 

 so diff'erent from the Norwegian method that some description of it may be worth 

 while. As is well known, the Norwegians use fast steam whale-catchers with a heavy 

 harpoon gun mounted in the bow. The harpoon is fired by means of a charge of 

 black powder and has, at its head, three hinged iron barbs which are lashed to the 

 stem of the harpoon. The barbs become unlashed on entering the whale's body and 

 project outwards so as to prevent the withdrawal of the harpoon. In front of the 

 barbs at the head of the harpoon is a heavy conical grenade of cast iron, filled also with 

 black powder and exploded by means of a time fuse. The fuse is ignited by the discharge 

 of the harpoon from the breech of the gun. The whale is killed by explosion of the 

 grenade after the harpoon has entered its body. The harpoon carries out with it a stout 

 rope line which is coiled in a hold of the ship abaft the gun-mounting and runs from 

 the hold to the gun round the drums of the steam winch and over a system of 

 accumulator blocks fitted to the mainmast. The first fifty fathoms of this line are of 

 smaller diameter than the remainder and are coiled in readiness upon a platform in 

 front of the gun mounting. This lighter rope is the ' ' forerunner ' ' which is carried 

 out by the harpoon immediately it leaves the gun. After the whale has been struck 

 the rest of the harpoon line follows and the whale is, as it were, "played" like a fish 

 at the end of the harpoon line. He usually "sounds", or dives deeply, after being 

 struck, or thrashes about in the water. If the harpoon has not hit fairly into the back 

 it may be necessary to fire a second harpoon. If that is so the whale is hauled within 

 range by the harpoon fine wound upon the drum of a steam winch. After the death 

 of the animal the carcase is made fast by the tail alongside the ship, the flukes being 

 cut off for convenience. The body wall is pierced by a long lance carrying the end 

 of a pipe leading from an air pump. Air is pumped into the carcase so as to render 

 it buoyant, since, after expulsion of the air from the lungs, the carcase of the Blue or 



