EXTRAORDINARY WHALEHUNT IN THE TAY.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1374, 14 March 1884, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY WHALEHUNT IN THE TAY.

I mentioned in my last the futile endeavours of the Dundee whalers to capture a large whale which har' boen frequenting the Tay for some, ime, attracted thither by the great sLoals of sprats which have been visiting that estuary. In spite of every attempt to ! kill him, the whale remained scatheless, nor was he frightened away. Qne day he astonished the good folks of Broughty Ferry by leaping bodily out of the* water, causing a piodigious splash, as may be imagined. At length, on the last day of 1888, the monster's time arrived. A steam launch aud two six-oared rowing boats gave chase about 11 a.m., and the former succeeded in getting fast with a. harpoon. The rowing boats were taken in tow by the launch, and the whale made for the sea, dragging the whole flotilla after it. After passing Broughty Ferry, one of the rowing boats fixed another harpoon to the whale, but , the whale's frantic movements soon set it free again. Meanwhile, the iron steam tug Iron King had been despatched from Dundee to assist the boats, and overtook them near Buddoness light. Another harpoon was fixed in the whale, and the line of the steam launch was transferred to the tug. Nevertheless the. whale dragged the whole four ofthe craft for hours, backwards aud forwards, in spite of its being severely wounded with lances, as well as by ihe harpoons. Once it rose under one of tlie boats and lifted it clean out of the water crew and all, at one end. The steam launch was now despatched to Dundee for rockets and lances, but on its return could not find .the boats in the darkness. The whale was at length allowed to take its own course and then headed straight for the sea. When it crossed the Gaa Bank the tug cast off, but made fast again when deep water was reached. The whale made straight for the Bell Rock, but before reaching it struck off nortbwardstill near Montrose. It then returned past the Bell Rock, but when near the mouth of the Frith headed back again for some hours. At daybreak the harpoon-gun was used to fire into it a bar oi iron four feet long, two marlinspikes, and all the iron bolts that could be found on board. About 8 a.m. it seemed almost exhausted, but. regained strength, and half an hour later the line parted.- The steamer gave chase for Borne distance, but the rising sea enabled the whale to get away, carrying with it three harpoons and the other articles mentioned above. It had been fast for 22 hours, and had towed the steamer alone for nearly 50 miles, and the boats some seven miles besides. Just a week later it was found floating dead off the Kincardineshire coast by some -fishing Itoats belonging to the village •of Gourdon. Three of them succeeded :in towiqg.it into the. harbour of Stoneheaven, when it was found to be a humpback whale, -measuring 40ft in length, and with a maximum girth of 23ft. Whales of this species are very rare visitors to Scotland.