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 



