Pelorus Jack

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pelorus Jack, a famous Risso's Dolphin from New Zealand. Photo taken by Captain C. F. Post, of the N.Z. Govt. SS Tutanekai

Location of Cook Strait

Pelorus Jack was the name given to a dolphin that was famous for meeting and escorting ships over a certain stretch of water in Cook Strait, New Zealand, between 1888 and 1912. The dolphin's habits were so regular that on 26 September 1904, it was protected by Order in Council under the Sea Fisheries Act and remained so until its disappearance in 1912. It is thought to be the first individual sea creature protected in this way by any country.^[1]

Pelorus Jack was 4 metres (12–14 ft) long and was of a white colour with grey lines or shadings, and a round, white head.^[2] Although its sex was never determined, it was identified from photographs as a Risso's Dolphin, Grampus griseus. This is an uncommon species in New Zealand waters, and only 12 Risso's Dolphins have been reported in that area.^[3]

Pelorus Jack was usually spotted in Admiralty Bay between Cape Francis and Collinet Point, near French Pass, a treacherous channel used by ships travelling between Wellington and Nelson. In spite of his name, he did not frequent nearby Pelorus Sound, and local residents familiar with his habits assert that he never went through French Pass itself.^[1]

[edit] The legend

Pelorus Jack was first seen around 1888 when it appeared in front of the schooner Brindle when the ship approached French Pass, a channel located between D'Urville Island and the New Zealand mainland. The area is dangerous to ships with rocks and strong currents but no shipwrecks occurred when Jack was present.

According to contemporary accounts, Pelorus Jack seemed to guide the ships, preferably steamers, through dangerous passages of the French Pass. It might swim alongside a watercraft for twenty minutes at a time. Sometimes if the crew could not see Jack at first, they waited for him to appear.

Thousands of sailors and travellers saw Pelorus Jack and he was mentioned in local newspapers and depicted in postcards. A law was passed in 1904, after someone tried to shoot him from a passing steamer.

Jack was last seen in April 1912. There were various rumours connected to his disappearance, including fears that foreign whalers might have harpooned him. However, research suggests that Pelorus Jack was an old animal; his head was white and his body pale, both indications of age, so it is likely that he died of natural causes.^[3]

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Alpers, A.F.G.. PELORUS JACK. An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966. Retrieved on 2006-12-29.
^ The Legend of Pelorus Jack. pelorus-jack.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-29.
^ ^a ^b Parkinson, Brian. Unique Wildlife of New Zealand - Pelorus. Ecotours New Zealand. Retrieved on 2006-12-29.