Pelorus Jack
Encyclopedia
Pelorus Jack was a Risso's dolphin
that was famous for meeting and escorting ships through a stretch of water in Cook Strait
, New Zealand
, between 1888 and 1912. Pelorus Jack was usually spotted in Admiralty Bay
between Cape Francis and Collinet Point, near French Pass
, a notoriously dangerous channel used by ships travelling between Wellington
and Nelson
.
Pelorus Jack was shot at from a passing ship, and was later protected by a 1904 New Zealand law.
, Grampus griseus. This is an uncommon species in New Zealand waters, and only twelve Risso's dolphins have been reported in that area.
Despite his name, he did not live in nearby Pelorus Sound
; instead, he would often guide ships through dangerous passages of French Pass. However, some local residents familiar with his habits claim that he never went through French Pass itself.
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 South Island
. The area is dangerous to ships with rocks and strong currents but no shipwrecks occurred when Jack was present.
Many sailors and travellers saw Pelorus Jack and he was mentioned in local newspapers and depicted in postcards.
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.
Since 1989, Pelorus Jack has been used as a symbol for the Interislander
, a ferry service across the Cook Strait, and is incorporated into the livery of the ships in the fleet.
tried to shoot Pelorus Jack with a rifle. Despite the attempt at his life, Pelorus Jack continued to help ships. According to folklore, however, Pelorus Jack no longer helped the Penguin, which shipwrecked in Cook Strait in 1909.
Risso's Dolphin
Risso's dolphin is the only species of dolphin in the genus Grampus.-Taxonomy:Risso's dolphin is named after Antoine Risso, whose description formed the basis of the first public description of the animal, by Georges Cuvier, in 1812...
that was famous for meeting and escorting ships through a stretch of water in Cook Strait
Cook Strait
Cook Strait is the strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It connects the Tasman Sea on the west with the South Pacific Ocean on the east....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, between 1888 and 1912. Pelorus Jack was usually spotted in Admiralty Bay
Admiralty Bay, New Zealand
Admiralty Bay is a large indentation in the northern coast of New Zealand's South Island. It lies close to the northernmost mainland point of the Marlborough Sounds, immediately to the south of D'Urville Island....
between Cape Francis and Collinet Point, near French Pass
French Pass
French Pass is a narrow and treacherous stretch of water that separates D'Urville Island, at the north end of the South Island of New Zealand, from the mainland coast. At one end is Tasman Bay, and at the other end the outer Pelorus Sound leads out to Cook Strait.French Pass has the fastest tidal...
, a notoriously dangerous channel used by ships travelling between Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
.
Pelorus Jack was shot at from a passing ship, and was later protected by a 1904 New Zealand law.
Appearance
Pelorus Jack was approximately 13 feet (4 m) long and was of a white color with grey lines or shadings, and a round, white head. Although its sex was never determined, it was identified from photographs as a Risso's dolphinRisso's Dolphin
Risso's dolphin is the only species of dolphin in the genus Grampus.-Taxonomy:Risso's dolphin is named after Antoine Risso, whose description formed the basis of the first public description of the animal, by Georges Cuvier, in 1812...
, Grampus griseus. This is an uncommon species in New Zealand waters, and only twelve Risso's dolphins have been reported in that area.
History
Pelorus Jack would guide the ships by swimming alongside a water craft for twenty minutes at a time. If the crew could not see Jack at first, they would often wait for him to appear.Despite his name, he did not live in nearby Pelorus Sound
Pelorus Sound
Pelorus Sound is the largest of the sounds which make up the Marlborough Sounds at the north of the South Island, New Zealand. The Marlborough Sounds is a system of drowned river valleys, which were formed after the last ice age around 10,000 years ago...
; instead, he would often guide ships through dangerous passages of French Pass. However, some local residents familiar with his habits claim that he never went through French Pass itself.
Pelorus Jack was first seen around 1888 when it appeared in front of the schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Brindle when the ship approached French Pass, a channel located between D'Urville Island
D'Urville Island, New Zealand
D'Urville Island is an island in the Marlborough Sounds along the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It was named after the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville. With an area of approximately , it is the eighth-largest island of New Zealand, and has around 52 permanent...
and the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. The area is dangerous to ships with rocks and strong currents but no shipwrecks occurred when Jack was present.
Many sailors and travellers saw Pelorus Jack and he was mentioned in local newspapers and depicted in postcards.
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.
Since 1989, Pelorus Jack has been used as a symbol for the Interislander
Interislander
The Interislander is a road and rail ferry service across New Zealand's Cook Strait, owned and operated by state-owned rail operator KiwiRail.The Interislander travels between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island, forming a road and rail link between New Zealand's two main...
, a ferry service across the Cook Strait, and is incorporated into the livery of the ships in the fleet.
Shooting incident
In 1904, someone aboard the SS PenguinSS Penguin
SS Penguin was a New Zealand 824 ton inter-island ferry steamer that sank off Cape Terawhiti near the entrance to Wellington Harbour in poor weather on 12 February 1909, and subsequently exploded as cold sea water flooded into the red-hot boiler room. Of the 105 passengers and crew on board, only...
tried to shoot Pelorus Jack with a rifle. Despite the attempt at his life, Pelorus Jack continued to help ships. According to folklore, however, Pelorus Jack no longer helped the Penguin, which shipwrecked in Cook Strait in 1909.