22 



often to be found in very considerable numbers off various 

 portions of our coast. Twofold Bay has been a whaling 

 station for many years, and a considerable trade results from 

 the operations of the two whaling parties living and working 

 there. The whales are captured primarily, of course, for 

 their oil; whalebone or baleen also being an important 

 product. A valuable agricultural fertiliser could be made 

 from their carcases after the blubber or " blanket " is taken 

 off, but at present this is not done. 



In the capture of the various species of Whales, the Two- 

 fold Bay whalers are greatly assisted by the Killers or Killer- 

 Whales (Orca gladiator), which harass and pursue the Whales, 

 usually clustering about the head and hanging on to the 

 lower lips in an attempt to force open the leviathan's mouth, 

 with the object of getting at its huge tongue, which is their 

 special titbit. The Killers hem the Whales in towards the shore 

 so that the latter are caught between the whalers and them. 



Among the whales captured at Twofold Bay are the follow- 

 ing species : The Black Whale (Balcena), the Hump-back 

 (Megaptera), the Sulphur-bottom, the Black Fin-back, and 

 the Little Piked Whale or so-called (locally) Grampus ; 

 the three last of the genus Balcenoptera. 



Mr. James Morgan, the editor of the " Eden Observer," 

 and a very keen observer of the whaling in those parts, 

 informs me that the average size of the Black Whales cap- 

 tured is about 50 feet ; the largest in many years having 

 been 59 feet. The Hump-backs average 45 to 50 feet. The 

 Sulphur-bottom is far-and-away the hugest beast of our 

 waters, growing to a length of about 100 feet. One captured 

 at Twofold Bay in September, 1908, measured no less than 

 98 feet. This was a Ck cow," and Mr. George Davidson, who 

 secured it, tells me that she became stranded through her 

 maternal solicitude for her " calf," itself no less than 45 feet 

 long, and which had previously become stranded. It is said 

 that some years back, Mr. George Davidson, the veteran 

 whaler, saw a female about 100 feet long, with a " baby " 

 about 45 feet in length by her side. The Black Fin-back 



