Story: Whaling

Approaching a whale (2nd of 3)

Approaching a whale

A harpooned whale would thrash in the water and drag the whaling boat until exhausted. The boats would approach and the steersman would kill the suffering creature with the thrust of a lance. If there were a number of boats, those who claimed the whale would mark their catch with a flag attached to the lance.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0003
Etching with aquatint, hand coloured by John Hewside Clark

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Whaling - Pursuit and capture', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/6259/approaching-a-whale (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 12 Jun 2006