Capture of Blue Whale

Photograph, black and white showing firing from the stern of the ship at a Blue Whale in the water. Annotated with 'number 13' on back - this possibly is a reference to the images selected to be used for Alister Hardy's book on the expedition 'Great Waters'. Annotation from 'Great Waters' for this photograph reads 'The gunner is ready to fire but waits to get closer. The whale has come up just below the bow and the ship jerks with the recoil of the gun; hence the photo (taken from the rigging) is a little blurred, but at 1/1000 sec. exposure it catches the dark harpoon head just about to hit the whale'. Part of a collection of photographs and archives relating to Alister Hardy 1896-1985, zoologist on the Discovery Oceanographic Expedition 1925-1927.