Waite — Two Australasian Blue Whales 161 



Towage. "Last week I received instructions to tow a large whale from the 

 soutli end of Corvisart Ray to Carawa jetty, a distance of about 32 miles. We left 

 Thevinard about 4 o'clock on Thursday afternoon and arrived just outside 

 Streaky Bay at 11 p.m., where we anchored for the night, leaving again at 4 

 a.m. on Friday. I was awakened by the master of the tug at 6.30 saying he 

 had sighted the whale, which was on the rocks a few hundred yards away. 

 After breakfast all hands went ashore to inspect the whale. The huge animal 

 was stranded against two large rocks, and as it was over 80 feet long and 16 

 feet high you can imagine we faced a difficult problem. When I walked 

 around to the head the smell was something frightful. To get a fastening 

 around the neck, as instructed, I soon found impossible, so decided to tow it 

 by the tail, which was 22 feet across. We then waited for the tide to rise. On 

 going ashore we noticed several fins projecting above the water in the bay, 

 and came to the conclusion that they were of big sharks, which subsequently 

 proved to be correct. When the tide rose high enough the tug hove up 

 anchor and started to pull, and much to the relief of all hands the beast came 

 off quite easily. From all directions came big sharks. Our men dropped a 

 huge, well-baited hook over, and a monster was soon hooked. We estimated 

 the length at 20 feet, but 1 think that was under the mark. Two bullets from 

 my rifle killed it, and the united strength of nine men could lift only his head 

 out of the water. This we c|uickly clmpped off with axe and tomahawk. Two 

 other sharks were soon settled with the rifle, and then we had a little peace 

 until our tow ropes were secured to the carcase of the whale. 



"We left Corvisart IjE}- aliout 3 p.m. on Friday for Carawa, and as we 

 got outside into the Bight the wind increased, causing a heavy swell and high 

 seas, which did nut improve our task. Further excitement followed, for just 

 at dusk our 5-inch manilla tow-line parted, and we were left with only a 

 smaller safety line around the whale's body. We were travelling three miles 

 an hour, and still had several miles to go before reaching calm water. About 

 two hours afterwards the second tow-line parted, and the whale got adrift on 

 the high seas. We turned about, and again managed to make a small line fast, 

 but noticed that the sharks (including one we had branded in the eye with a 

 boat hook) were following. After making fast we were able to go only dead 

 slow until we got well into calm water. We then passed a large chain around 

 the tail, and whilst doing so the sharks rubbed up against the tug, but took 

 no notice of a prod with a boat hook. We arrived at Carawa landing at 2 a.m. 

 on Saturday morning, having covered 32 miles in eleven hours, when all hands 

 were readv for bed. 



