G'day Liz,

The line could be from the chorus of Harry Robertson's Ballina Whalers
Heigh ho ye trawler men come on, forget the schnapper and the prawn
And it's out of Ballina we'll sail, a'fishing for the humpbacked whale.
This was based on Harry's 1956 spell at shore-based whaling - chasing humpbacks with a converted ex-navy "Fairmile".

I have the tune and text in the book Whaling Songs of Harry Robertson, published by Albert Publications (J. Albert & Sons Ltd, 139 King Street., Sydney, NSW, Australia) in 1972 to accompany his record (which I also have) Whale Chasing Men - Music for Pleasure #MFP 8272 Stereo.

Harry's whaling songs are marvelous ... even more so, considering the bloody nature of the whaling trade. I'm not surprised that so many have been taken up by UK singers. The whaling business is happily (almost) gone, but my mother's siter married a Danish whaler. He worked outback as a stockman, on sheep and cattle stations ... but every year or two, the whaling would call and he would quit station work and get down to Sydney to sign up for the southern whaling season, chase whales for 4 moths or so - then be back in the dry back country riding a horse after cattle!

Regards,

Bob Bolton