The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-05-04
THE WHALE KILLER

'iL " IiiLE IL.
Among the many papers brought to the
notice of the Scientific Convention in Wash
lngton, was one read by Lieut.. MAuRY, ofthe
National Observatory, on the subject of the
description and habits of the animal known
as the " Whale Killer" Lieut.. M. stated that
he was not personally acquainted with the
subject of his communication but being con.
nected with department which required not
only record of winds, waves and currents,
but description of phenomena to be wit
messed upon the ocean, facts concerning the
Whale Killer had come under his Ohser.
walton, which, as they created some aston.
lshment in his own mind, he thought they
might be ofinterest to the Association. These
he presented chiefly in extracts from letters
of sea captains of whaling vessels.
This animal, it appears is not exactly de-
scribed in works of natural history There
IS one certainly resembling it in some respects
which inhabits the Artic seas, STYLED " Bale-
na PhYs0liS commonly known as the ara
cor back" from its sharp, dorsal fin. 1t is
extremely active-its head smaller than that
of the right whale, its fins sharper, and its
body longer in proportion to bulk. 1t yields
so little oil that it is not an object of pursuit
by the whalers. 1t is an enemy to other
whales, which always avoid it, and its appear
ance is therefore viewed with concern by the
whale fishers. Its ordinary length is said to
be one hundred feet, and its greatest circum-
ference thirty to thirty five feet.
The Killer referred to by Lieut.. NJ, is
smaller than the PhysoliS, like ii, has a ' dor
sal fin but unlike it, has teeth. He is de
scribed as being about thirty feet in length,
not heavy but strong, active and courageous.
He attacks boldly, and kills every deserip-
ton of whale, and one old SALT in his letter to
Lieut. NJ says, every kind of fish, holding the
position of conqueror and king of the seas.
He yields but little oil-the largest ever cap
tured yielding only eight barrels. They are
met with in the Pacific Ocean Capt Hays
reports that the Killer "seizes his adversary
by the throat, gnawing upon it until he for
ces his mouth open, when he darts at his
tongue and tears 1t ont from tie mouth j! !"
The tongue seems TO be highly priced by
him. Capt. Daniel Mack kenzie, in letter to
Lieut. NJ, says:
'"rhe Whale Killer is deadly animal to all the
tribes OF the sea- and especially to every species of
the whale. All its tribes have to succumb to its gil
gantc power and yield up their life blood to satiate
i It's yoracious appetite; No epicure can therefore
his palate than this iendish animal That he roams
from pole to pole. is found by whales in every sea-
much to their annoyance"
Lieut.. MAuRY's paper drew from Lieut..
PORTER, who has been nearly everywhere
and knows a little of everything, the follow
ing interesting account of the "hiNer" 1t
was communicated to the Intelligencer:
WASHINGTON, April 9th.
MEssRs. EDIToRs-In Lieut.. Maury's description
of the whale. he made some remarks a fish of the
above Species Gale the Killer This fish is describ-
ed in "Porter's Journal of Cruise in the Pacific -
This fsh is so well known to the old salts of the
whaling trade and Pacific cruisers, that have always
thought it equally well known to the scientific
Having on more than one occasion been eye-wit-
of the attacks of this fish the whale will at
tempt description Ct it.
The killer is the wolf of the ocean, and hunts in
packs and their tall dorsa fin be constantly seen
above the water. This fish has always as a compan-
ion, but swimming deeper, the Sicord.tsh 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
ing the surface and occasionally spoutins
it were in sport, jets ofwater above him. But he now
suddenly sees the sea Wolfn near him Instinct
teac hes him that the surface he cannot be
safe, and, taking in long breath, he ukes: that is
dives. But there has been another enemy watchin 9
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
spearke This sends him at to the sur
face; here he again meets with his emy the kill
err" but yet they If aid to approach him. The
whale now be gins to the extent of his danger,
aud for time merely Iashes the water with his pom
Ia flFlG Of and
fer short time at rest the pack now approach him,
and he seeks safety in flight But what can he do :
The poor whale has hump on his back and steers
unsteadiy, while the killers tall and stiff fin steadies
him on his course. Nearer and nearer approaches
the pack to their victim again he takes long
breath and dives. The swordfish has steadily kept
him in view he too has tall fin and long slender
propeng tail and while 1t is an effort to the whale
to increase his speed, it is but play the swordfsh
which again darts and perforates his prey, and sends
the wounded whale again to the surface
The race commences, but this time with dinin.
ished speed, the killers having separated to watch
the Iise of the whale, who finding his enemies in
every direction in circle and again makes
third and sometimes fourth, attempt to escape by
diving butts always met by the terrible spike of the
sword hsh. he at last weak, exhausted and dispi
rted returns to the surface where he again atte
escape by flight Streams of blood mark his course
his enemies still follow steadily after him. until he
stops and begins to lash and make the ocean foam
around him; but now large streams of his life blood
pouring out, and he is only increasing his weak
ness by the exertion and merely lashing amidst bi
own gore. Tired exhausted and faint he rolls over.
The deep red streaks of blood flowing from large or.
fees in his white belly be distinctly seen.
The hungry pack now close, and one more bold than
the rest sezes him the throat and tears away
white skin and fat; he opens his mouth and be lows
with pain This is generally the signal for a com
bned attack. Hs tongue is seized aud torn from his
mouth; so are his eyes The sword-fish now rises to
the surface. and his tall spar like protuberance is
seen projecting over the body of the whale the
sharks also close in and feed the fat rejected by
the killers. In this state the whale makes few dy-
ing struF gles- The feast now commences and con-
tinues until the fat and sufficient flesh is stripped of
the surface and sinks The shark is left to enjoy his
few streaks OF fat while the killer pack, accompa-
MED by their companion, the sword-fsl, rove again
the broad ocean to seek another levsthan of the
great deep.
w. d. PORTER, U. s. Navy
NEwsPAPERs.-We are glad to welceme the
L. L. A. -