Whale on the Tongan

According to a report from Tonga there was no shortage of fresh meat at Nukualofa, in October—ll whales were success fully harpooned and landed during that month.

Whaling in Tonga for a good many years past has been carried out purely to satisfy the fresh-meat market. The blubber is not rendered for oil. The whales are taken outside Nukualofa port from open boats, in the good old Moby Dick style, towed in to the beach, and sold in convenient size pieces to the public, which takes delivery direct from the carcase. The

unused portions are then towed across the lagoon to become shark bait—and as are killed the public are waiting to take delivery of them too, at very

satisfactory prices.

It is reported that Prince Tungi has been investigating the possibility of establishing a real whaling station in Tonga, similar to that at Norfolk, although perhaps on a smaller scale.

Tongan whaling has for many years been carried out mainly by the Cook family. t After loading 7,000 tons of iron ore at Prony Bay, New Caledonia, the Nickel ship Caronte was on her way to Newcastle, NSW, in De cember.