The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-06-28
The Whale killer.

go '"Sh'SsoH, hdcut. manFyS
paper on the newly described fish was given,
as also the notes from old Tradescent" by
DIR. Hamcl, of St Petersburg, on the same
hsh. The following letter on the same sub
Ject we find in the National Intellgencer:
In Lieutenant Maury's description of the
whale, he made some remarks on fish of
the above species called the "Killcr". This
fish Is described in "Porter's Journal of n
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 well known TO the scien-
tific. Having on more than one occasion
been an eye witness Of the attacks Of this
fish on the whale will attempts description
of IL.
The killer is the wolf Of the ocsan and
hunts in packs, and their tall dorsel find can
be constantly seen above the water. This
fish has always as n companion, but swim
ming deeper, the sword 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 uncon-
scious whale is slowly moving near the sur
face, and occasionally spoutiug, as it were
IN sport, jets of water above him. But he
suddenly now sees the "S.a-wolf" near him.
Instinct Mt once teaches him that on the
surface he cannot be safe, and taking in
long breath, he hukes, that is dives. But
there has been another enemy watching him
from the depths below, the "sword fish,"
which now darts at him with the velocity of
lightning and perforates the whale beneath
with his long and spear.like nose. This at
once sends him to the surface; here he a.
gain meets with his enemy the killer; but
rs yet they are afraid to approach him.
The whale now begins to see the extent
OF his danger, and for a time merely lashes
the water with his ponderous fluke. He soon
tires OF this, and remains for short time at
rest; the pack now approaches him, and he
seeks safety in flight. But what can be dol
The oor whale has hump on his back and
steers unstcadily, while the killers tail and
stiff fin steadies him on his course. Ne rer
and nearer approaches the pack to their vic
tim; again he tnkes long breath and dives.
The sword.ish has steadily kept him in Wow;
no too, has tail fin, and long slender pro-
pelling tail; and while it is an effort to the
whale to increase his speed, IL is but play
for the sword-fsh, which again darts and per-
porates his prey, and sends the wounded
whale again to the surfrce. The race again
commences, but this time with diminished
speed, the killers have separated To watch
the rise Of the whale. who, finding his enc.
mics in every direction, courses in n circle.
and again makes n third, and sometimes a
fourth attempt to escape by diving, but is
always met by the terrible pike Of the sword
fish. He at last, weak, exhausted and dis
pirited, returns to the surface, where he at
tempts escape by fight, astass3,s
Streams of blood mark his course: his
enemies still follow steadily af or him until
he stops, and begins to lash and makes the
ocean foam around him; but large streams
OF his life blood are now pouring out, and he
" only Increasing his weakness by the exer
tion' aud merely iashing amidst his own gore.
Tired exhausted and faint, he rolls over.
The deep red streaks Of blood flowing from
large oriiaces in his white belly, can now be
distinctly seen. The hungry pack now close
and one, more bold than the rest, sezes him
near the throat, and tears away the white
skin and fat; he opens his mouth and BEL
lows with pain. This is centrally the sig
nal for combined attack. His tongue is
seixed and torn from his mouth; 80 are his
eyes from his head. The sword-fish now
rises to the surface. and his tall, spar.lik.
protruberancc is seen projecting over the
body Of the whale the sharks also close in.
and feed on the fat rejected by the killers.
The feast now commences, and continues
until the fiat and sufficient flesh is stripped
oil to cause the carcass to become too heavy
70 float on the surface, and Il sinks. The
shark is left to enjoy his few streaks of fat,
while the killer pack, accompanied by their
companion, the sword-fsh rove again the
the broad ocean. to seek another levithian
OF the great deep.
w. ID. PORTER, u s. N.