CHAPTER XXX 

 MORE ABOUT WHALES 



THE possibility of protecting whales from wanton 

 slaughter by man is, no doubt, a matter open to 

 discussion. Protection has, however, been accorded to 

 one particular whale in an exceptional instance. Passenger 

 steamers along the coast of New Zealand used to 

 call at a station in a narrow inlet of the coast, called 

 Pelorus Sound. A black whale, said to be of the 

 kind known as Risso's Grampus, of about 14 ft. in length, 

 was apparently a settled inhabitant of this channel, 

 and used to follow the steamers and accompany them 

 through the sound. He became famous and popular, 

 and was known as " Pelorus Jack." He was always 

 looked for and recognised by the sailors and passengers. 

 Certain savagely destructive persons on one of these 

 steamers to the horror and disgust of the New Zealand 

 world made an attempt to shoot " Pelorus Jack." 

 It is stated, and believed by sailors, that ill-luck conse- 

 quently fell on that steamer. On its next voyage it was 

 avoided by the whale, who had never failed to welcome 

 friendly and non-aggressive steamships, and on a third 

 voyage the steamer was wrecked. The feeling about 

 " Pelorus Jack " was so strong that his Excellency the 

 Governor of New Zealand, Lord Plunket, signed, on 

 September 26th, 1904, an Order in Council, protecting 



