Old Tom (c. 1860s/1895 – September 1930) was a male orca (killer whale) who cooperated with and assisted whalers in the port of Eden, New South Wales, on the southeast coast of Australia. Old Tom was believed to be the leader of a pod of orcas which helped the whalers by herding baleen whales into Twofold Bay. This pod was also known as "the killers of Eden". On 17 September 1930, Old Tom was found dead in Twofold Bay. Before his death, he was thought to be over 90 years old, assisting three generations of the Davidson family whalers. Examination of his teeth indicated he died around age 35, but this method of age determination is now believed to be inaccurate for older animals. Old Tom's bones were preserved and his skeleton is now on display in the Eden Killer Whale Museum. Old Tom measured 22 feet (6.7 m) and weighed 12,000 pounds (6 tons), with a 3.33 ft (1.01 m) skull and teeth about 5.31 inches (135 mm) long.
History
Eden and the Davidson family The Davidson family was the only group of whalers that resided in Eden year-round. They relied on traditional whaling techniques, such as row boats and hand harpoons, that did not disturb or put stress on the orcas with loud noise, while also reducing operating costs. Eden, first established in 1842, is located 470 km (290 mi) south of Sydney in the greater area of Twofold Bay. It is a town with dense forests to the west and the sea to the east. Eden wharf is located in Snug Cove, opposite of Davidson Whaling Station, located in Kiah Inlet. Leatherjacket Bay, outside of South Head, was frequently used by the orcas as a forward base. Eden is mostly known for its significance to the whaling history in Australia in the 19th century.
Indigenous Australians and orcas Around 10,000 years ago, the relationship between orcas, referred to as beowas ('brothers' in English) and whalers began with the Katunga, the Indigenous Australian whalers. The Katunga, translated to "sea coast people" or "saltwater people", saw orcas as their reincarnated ancestors, whalers in particular, due to the similarity in coloration of the orcas and the traditional black and white clothing worn during their corroboree ceremonies. During this ceremony people interact with the Dreamtime through dance, music and costumes. The belief of orcas harboring the souls of the lost whalers occurred with the coincidence of a new orca appearing each time a whaler died. Orcas were seen as "working-dogs": playful, helpful, and friendly.
Davidson family
Alexander Davidson was a Scottish immigrant who began shore-based whaling in 1857 with his son John. Their whaling station in Kiah Inlet was first built in the 1860s and was the longest running shore-based whaling station in Australia. The family utilized row boats and harpoons and did not advance with newer, more effective equipment, such as hand guns and motor boats. They indicated this was to protect the orcas from loud sounds and also to not scare them away. The three generations of the Davidson family all claimed to have Old Tom assisting them on their whaling trips. They reported that Old Tom would take the cable attached to the harpoon to pull the rowboat faster out to the open ocean. The relationship between orcas and the Davidson family was based on mutual help: if a man would fall overboard during one of the whaling trips, the orcas would protect the man from danger until he was back on board. Similarly, if any orcas became entangled in fishing lines, a whaler would cut them free. Indigenous Australian men were employed in the Davidson whaling crew, which is one factor that kept the Davidson whaling station going for so long. They were employed on the same terms as whites, which is one of the reasons the relationship between the orcas and the Davidson whalers was established. George Davidson's was the only relationship that mirrored the depth of the bond between Indigenous Australian workers and the orcas. This bond might have been established due to the whalers of the crew feeding Old Tom and other orcas fish while waiting for passing whales. In later years, this was one of the main food sources for the orcas. George died in 1952.
The Law of Tongue The Law of Tongue was recognized as the "unspoken rule" between the Eden orcas and humans. This law refers to the process of whalers anchoring the whale carcass to either the bottom of the sea floor or in proximity to the shore, where the orcas feed on the carcass. The primary target of the orcas on most species of whales, specifically the baleen whales, are the tongue, the lips and the genital region. The blubber and bones remain unharmed and are then used by the whalers. The law of tongue dates back to indigenous Australian history, similarly to the food offering to the beowas by locals for generations.
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