The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-05-27
TIL: KILLER WHALE.

t"rIc -i,o:..i.H-" u ;c Nt. .i.. l8tti .-i.-,s
Messrs. E,litor>: In Lieut. Mau-,'s Dies
cription oi the whale, he made som. re,.i1r.s
on fish "i the above species called the k.1sr.
This fish is described lii 'porcrs Journal q.
a Cruise in the Pacific" This fish is 50 well
known 10 the old salts of the whaling trade
and Pacific cruisers that have always
thought it equally well known to the scien-
ti;ic. Having on more than one occasion
been an e,e-witncsS OF the attacks of this fist.
on the whale. viii attempt description of
it.
The killer is TIE wolf of the ocean, anu
hunts in packs, and their :al ,lor>al fin can
constantly bc seen above the water. This fish
has always as companion. but swimming
deeper, the >"orl-H<h, and ROW and then can
be seen the >hitt. On si-!.,im. their prev.
which the killer sees at a .re,. distance. the
pax gives cha>c: ;he unconscious whale Is
SLOWLY moving near the suriar" and occasion-
ally >poutins a> ii were IN sport. jets Of wa
cT tDDNc iii.l tpui Stitlti!iN SEES
the '.sca-woii near him. Instinct at oncc
teaches hin that on the surface he cannot be
safe. and, TAXI. in lon. breath. he fukc>;
that is, dives lnut there has been another
cn,lny watchin. ham from the depths below.
the ''Swold-ti>i, which HOW darts at HIM with
the ycocity OF ii.hinin. and I,c.iora.cs the
whale beneath with his Ion. and spearlikc
nosc THIS send, him at once TO the suriarc;
here he a.ain meets with his enemy, the xii
lcr;" liu a> Yet they are afraid 10 approach
him. The Whale now Lc.ii.> 20 see the ex-
tent OF his danger. anI Tor a time merely
lashcs the water witt, his loiitlcrUus tiuk"-
: lie soon Tires o tl.i> ai.d remains inr >hort
time al rest: Tie pack nuw APPROACH iiii;'.ari
he sccks safety in fight. Bu; what Tan hr
DO: The poor whale has a hump on H.
lack and steers un>:eadiiv. While the killer
tail and stiff fin stcadcS hn on his cour>r.-
Nearer and nearer APPROACHES the !'a,k {.
; their Vi tim : a.ain he iakr, lonr lrea,h
; and dives Tie sword ii>l has >tca,.iy kcIt
him in view: he too has tail fin and lo:ie
, slender pro:,elin. tail anl while it is an
effort % the whale to increase his speed. it is
but play to the sworl-fi>h. which arain dar.s
aud pcrto,atcs his ;,rev.anl sends Tie wound
ed whale again TO the surface.
The race again commences, hut this tim,
with diminished speed. the killers having
separated 10 watcl the rise Of the whale. .whn.
tiD,linu his enemies in rve:v !irectlnn. rour>-
O., in a circle and acain makes a iliird. and
,.e;imcs fourth, atfr'n;h ia cstape hv DIV
ino. ll,. is always met hv TIE terrible snike "f
: the sword fish, lie at last. weak. cxhan.se,i.
and ,li>piri,cd, returns to the surface. where
he arains attempts escape hv fight. Streams
I Of blood mark lis course his enemies sill
follow steadily after him. until he stops and
begins 10 lash and make the ocean foam a.
round him; bu: now large streams Of his lif,-
blood are pouring a:,and he is on! !. inrrcas-
ins his weakness 10y the excr:ion. and merely
lashinc amidst his own gore Tired, exhaust
cd. and faint, lie rolls oyer. Tie deep res
strcaks OF blood flowing from large orifices
in his white belly can now be distinctly seen
9 Tas hur:ry rack, scw dec. and cne mo.e