Whale Gets Hand From Nearby Fans

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — A humpback whale got a helping hand from the crew of the whale-watching vessel Nautilus over the weekend after she got tangled up in some fishing gear.

Skipper James Harkin said the crew knew something was wrong after they saw that the 65-foot humpback and her calf were not diving Sunday.

As the boat drew near, both whales swam alongside and the crew began removing 300 feet of rope and netting. Passengers cheered when crew members snipped away material that had been attached to the whale’s dorsal fin.

Afterward, the whales stayed with the boat for 1 1/2 hours before the Nautilus returned to dock, Harkin said.

“It was really sad when we had to leave them, but at least we left them in good health,” he said Monday.

The whale was familiar to the crew, which had been watching the mother and calf this summer.

Harkin said he had no doubt that the whale came alongside the vessel because it needed help.

“After observing whales for 20 years, it doesn’t surprise me,” he said. “Whales are amazing.”