One hundred years ago, Shoalhaven resident, Bob Bice witnessed whaling first hand on a visit to Eden. His account was published on the front page of the Shoalhaven Telegraph on October 7, 1908.
Distressing as it may be to some readers, Bice’s article is reprinted verbatim:
Having a few friends leaving Eden this morning (September 28) shortly after daylight, to whom I wished to say goodbye, was the cause of my being up rather earlier than usual.
On looking eastward over the sea just as the sun was rising, I noticed a number of small water-spouts, which I knew were caused by a school of whales.
There was no sign then of the killers (known about Twofold Bay as the whalers’ dogs).
Nearly an hour afterwards, however, I saw the killers driving a large whale and her calf into the mouth of the bay.
Anticipating a morning’s excitement, I went and swallowed a hurried breakfast, after which I went out to the cliffs, and watched with great interest the marvellous manner in which the killers manoeuvred to keep the whales from getting back to the open sea.
After getting the monsters of the deep well inside the bay, several killers remained on guard at the entrance, while the rest followed their prey, but centred their attention to the calf.
After half an hour’s driving (like dogs drive sheep), they had the baby stranded on the sand, and the old cow whale in going to the assistance of her calf also got into shallow water.
It was at this moment that Mr Davidson, of Twofold Bay, whaler, decided to get the whaleboats out.
I was fortunate enough to have a trip in one, and I witnessed a sight the like of which I never expect to see again.
After about half an hour’s rowing and sailing we arrived at the scene, and a lance was fired into the mother whale, which was trying its best to get back into deep water.
The huge monster, which was nearly 100 feet long, and weighed about 90 or 100 tons, immediately began to spout blood and water 30 or 40 feet into the air.
After a few more thrusts of the lance, the spouting appeared to be of pure blood. In an incredibly short time the sea was crimson for over 100 yards in all directions.
While this performance was going on, some of the killers were lying with their heads out of water, watching the whole concern, and others were swimming round the boats and leaping clear of the water, falling with a mighty splash, which can be imagined when it is known that they are about 25ft long, and are many tons in weight.
The dying struggle of the larger whale was a wonderful sight. It lifted its large tail (or flook, as it is called), thereby hurling tons of water into the air, and bringing it down with a crack like a cannon, causing large rollers in the water.
After this exhibition of strength it quivered all over and died.
The calf, which was about 45ft long, was quickly treated in the same manner, and we returned to Eden.
One remarkable feature was that, as soon as the boats left the whales, the killers, whose sagacity can hardly be exaggerated, immediately sailed off outside the bay, leaping out of the water as they went, apparently quite pleased with their victory.
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