CBWC Inter Office Memo, Towing Whales, 6th Dec.1975.

Subject : Towing Whales 6th Dec 1975
Eight whales were caught time 1615. AT that time Cheynes II had no whales to catch except one that they couldn’t see but had done S.E. Cheynes III was looking with the plane for two that had gone N.W. Cheynes IV was chasing. Cheynes II was towboat that day. I passed the message that I expected them to start picking up.
My reasons: There was no restriction on the catch so keep as many boats catching as possible.
I didn’t think the sea running would affect any ship towing eight whales.
If he did get into difficulties the ship picking up the rest of the whales could help him on the way in.
Those were my thoughts at the time.
During the process of picking up the Cheynes II passed a message that the whales were surging heavily in the chains. I replied asking the engineer to give you more speed, but got no reply. So I left it at that. If Kase had replied I would have told him to make sure the whales were not too tight in the chains while picking up, or drop two on each side in the tail straps.
As far as picking up is concerned, the actual operation of getting the whale alongside is the most critical to the whales being towed. Their tails could be broken in a confused sea or a sea that was running high. But as far as the actual towing a heavy swell doesn’t worry the whales only a sea that is running high has any effect. And that was what I made my decision on and proved right by the Cheynes II getting the eight whales home without stopping for broken tails.