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Tales of Banks Peninsula

Whaling Relics

Whaling Relics.

For years past the old try pots used by the whalers were left at Island Bay, Piraki, Oashore and Ikoraki, and at Piraki especially plenty of whalebone was to be seen scattered on the beach to remind one of the wild free days page 271when adventurous men braved the dangers of the seas in their search for whales. The roughness of the waves on the southern coast of the Peninsula is not to be con sidered lightly, as the Pacific Ocean beats with full force on that battered shore. No one who has never witnessed them would believe that waves of such a siza could roll in along the Forty Mile Beach. The force of the sea is shown clearly by the way in which Lakes Forsyth and Ellesmere are dammed at their outlets. Also, when the sea is running high, the roar of its impact on the Forty Mile Beach can be heard clearly for many miles. It is remarkable then that more were not drowned in the old whaling days. The life was a very hard one, as provisions were of the most primitive kind, and added to other troubles there was in the early days a dread of the Maoris descending upon the stations. One noticeable fact about the whalers was the great age attained by the majority of them. The life, though hard, was a healthy one, and while at work the men had no chance to drink much spirits. Much more interest has been taken of iate in these whaling days, and the try pots have been moved from their resting places to various points of interest. The Christchurch Museum obtained one of the try pots from Island Bay, while Mr. L. J. Vangioni has a try-pot taken from the scene of Hempleman's fishery, which he has mounted on his section by the Peninsula Technical School. Mr. L Wright presented the Akaroa Borough Council with a try pot from the Island Bay fishery, and this is now placed on the reserve opposite Mr. T. E. Taylor's private residence. It is interesting to have these relics, and the Akaroa Borough Council intends to have a tablet placed on the try pot given by Mr. L. Wright with a few particulars to show the uninitiated for what object the ugly looking cauldron is placed on the borough reserve.