Evening star., 1922-06-18
The Story of Pelorous Jack

a beautiful garden. From this wide
fight of steps leads down to the quiet
little town, which. like the humble
publican of the Bible. kneels rever-
entity below. On this flight OF steps
the people gather for public sorrow
ings and rejoicings. There are now
ers everywhere, and the air is drench-
ed with perfume, while the countr!
roads run between miles of apple Or
chards and hop fields. Nelson is fulI
of women: few men live therein
captivity. 1t is a pleasant place TO
dwell when you are more than sew
enty, and long for peace ana sun
shine. No wonder they were inter
ested in Pelorous Jack, who was their
nearest neighbor of note, and IN
whose reflected glory they shone' 10
see Jack brought many visitors 10 the
Quiet little town, and daylight pas
sage through the pass became a regu-
lar tourist trip.
I, was then that Nelson's repre-
sentative in parliament spoke uP.
Nowhere in the world was there sueh
4 fish; his fame was spreading anu
people were coming from far ana near
to see him. He was national asse'
as we'll as a unique specimen. "ha'
if some foolish or malicious person =
should try to capture him? The gov
ernment agreed, and so it came about
that 2 special act of parliament was
passed for his protection. fetorouS
Jack has the distinction OF oelis III.
only fish in the world to nave hau
snecial legislation enacted, under MS
own name, 10 insure his safety
ITO obtain photographs and snap
L shots of Jack was often haz
ardous matter One adventurous
Tourist. who was said to have been
an American, was determined 10 se'
one as Jack rubbed himself against
the ships side. Standing perilousiS
perched on the deck rail, he hao 1ust
clicked the shutter when the Vessel
rolled, and he took header into the
cool blue waters. A life buoy was
flung and he caught 1t, but his camera
went down to Davy Jones. After that
better facilities were provided for
photography. and also greater safe
guards to prevent reckless passen-
gers. in their endeavor to snap him,
from joining Jack in his watery nome.
One day when Pelorous Jack was
escorting the S. S. Penguin, he got
foul of the propeller and was hurt
He Immediately dived and disap-
peared, and there was CONSERVATION
on board lest the injury should prove
fatal or Jack should cease to escort
the ships. For several weeks he ola
not return, and then one day ne
came plowing through the waters to
take up his old patrol duty beside
the S. S. Mapourika. But never again
did Pelorous Jack accompany the
S. s. Penguin, the boat which mad
injured him. Many theories have ov."
advanced as to how he could differ
entiate between the vessels, but II is
an indisputable fact that this dis
elimination was shown by him, and If
the object of your voyage was to
see Pelorous Jack, you were warned
not to sail on the S. S. Penguin.
During the later part of :he var
Jack disappeared. IT had been hoped
that when his course was run Jack
body might be preserved in the Ma
tional Museum. However. Pelorous
Jack went as he had come, mys-
teriously. Some time earlier the Ger
man raider Woulf had slipped through
the protective Gordon and laid float
ing mines at intervals along the New
Zealand coast. 1t is thought that
Jack must have come into contact
with one of these and been blown to
pieces, as no trace of his body has
been found All We know definitely
is that the worlds most famous pilot
fish has gone, but his special act of
parliament is preserved in the ar
chives OF. the country. To the sailors
he is still a cherished memory. and
as the ships ply to and fro. bis
strange history is an oft-told tale.