The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-06-06
From the National MtelHgencer.
The Killer Whale.

In Lieut.. Maury's description of the whale,
he made some remarks on fish of the above
species called the killer. This fish is described
in "Porter's Journal of Cruise in the Pacific"
This fish is so we'll known to the old salts of
the whaling trade and Pacific cruisers, that |
have always thought it equally we'll known to
the scientific. Having on more than one oc-
cason been an eye witness of the attacks of
this fish on the whale, | will attempt de.
scr pton of it.
-.sFhe killer is the wolf of the ocean, and hunts
in packs, and their tall dorsai fin can be con
stantly seen above the water. This fish has
always as a companion, but swimming deeper
the svord; fish, and now and then can be seen
the shark. On sighting their prey, which the
killer sees at great distance, the pack gives
chase; the unconscious whale is slowly moving
near the surface, and occasionally spouting, as
it were iu sport, jets Of water above him. But
he now suddenly sees the "sea WOLF near him.
Instinct at once teaches him that on the sur.
face he cannot be safe, and taking in a long
breath, he flukes, that is, drives.
But there has been another enemy watch
ing him from the depths below, the "sword.fsh"
which now darts at him with the velocity of
lightning and perforates the whale beneath with
his long and spear.like nose. This sends him at
oncd to the surfaces here he again meets with
his enemy, the "killer;" but as yet they are
afraid to reproach him. The whale now be-
gins to see the extent of his danger, and for
time merely ashes the water with his ponder
Gus huke. He soon tires of this, and remains
for short time at rest; the pack now ap.
proach, him and he seeks safety in flight
But what can he do? The poor whale has a
lump on his back aud steers unsteadly while
the killers tall and still fin steadies him on his
course. Nearer and nearer approaches the
pack to their victim; again he takes long
breath and dives. The swork-6sh has steadily
kept him in view; he too has tall fin and
long slender propelling tail; and while it is
an effort to the whale to increase his speed
it is but play to the sword.6sh, which again
darts and perforates his prey, and sends the
wounded whale again to the surface. The race
again commences, but this time with diminish
ed speed, the killers having separated to watch
the rise of the whale, who finding his enemies
in every direction courses in a circle, and again
makes third, and sometimes fourth attempt
to escape by driving but is always met by the
terrible spike of the sword fish. He at last,
weak, exhausted and dispirited, returns to the
surface, where he again attempts escape by
fight.
Streams of blood marks his course; his enc.
mics still follow steadily after him, until he
stops and begins to lash and make the ocean
foam around him but now large streams OF
of Ife-blood are pouring out, and he is only
increasing his weakness by the exertion and
merely lashng, amidst his own gore. Tired,
exhausted AID faint, he rolls over. The deep
streaks of blood flowing from large orifices in
his white belly can now be distinctly
seen. The hungry pack now close, one more
bold than the rest seizes him near the throat
and tears away the skin and fat; he opens his
mouth and bellows with pain. This is gener-
ally the signal for a combined attack. His
tongue is seized and torn from his mouth; so
are his eyes The spar-like protuberance is
seen projecting over the body of the whale !;
the sharks also close in and feed on the fat re.
iected by the killers. In this state the whale
makes few dying struggles.
The feast now commences and continues un'
til the fat and sufficient flesh is stripped off to
cause the carcass to become too heavy to float
on the surface, it sinks. The sharks are left
to enjoy his streaks of fat while the killer
pack, accompanied by their companion, the
sword-fish, rove again the broad ocean to seek
another leviathan ofthe great deep.
w. D. PORTER, u. S. NAVY.