NOTES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12539, 10 May 1915, Page 3

NOTES.

The Flora arrived' on Saturday evening from Dunedin, and left shortly after 8 o'clock for Lyttelton.' She unloaded 30 tons and loaded 210 tons.

The Wauaka, from Auckland direct, is due here to-morrow; and after* loading produce will proceed to the Bluff. The Calm is due from Dunedin on Friday next, to load for Wellington and Wanganui. The Breeze is expected to-morrow.

The Corinna is due to-night from Dunedin to load for Wellington and New Plymouth. The steam whaler Hananui 11. is in Auckland undergoing her survey in preparation for the coming whaling season. Mr Herbert Cook, of Russell, explained to a Herald reporter that the whales' are expected about the end of May. There are two whaling seasons —during the months of Juno and July and September and October. At the present time the whales are down south exploring the food localities. They live, largely on crayfish spawn and the spawn of other fish. About this time they commence to move north to the breeding on calving grounds, and return later on. Whaling operations are designed to intercept the mammals on their northerly and southerly courses, and between, the two periods the whalers are idle. The creatures come in ones and two, threes and fours, and sometimes in large numbers. Mr Cook never has any idea whether a season is to be a good or bad one until the. whales arrive. Last year was described as only fair, 57 being caught during the four months of 1914. One hundred would constitute a good season. Much depends on the weather, for the whalers cannot go out in stormy periods.