Washington sentinel., 1854-05-31
From the National Intelligenccr.
The Killer Whale.

Messrs. EDIToRs In Lieutenant Maurys
description of the whale he made some re-
marks on fish of the above species, called
the killer. This fish is described in Porters
Journal of a 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 scientific.
Having on more than one occasion been an
eyewitness of the attacks of this fish on the
whale, viii attempt description oft
The killer is the wolf Of the ocean, and
hunts in packs and their tall dorsal fin can be
constantly seen above the water. This fish
has always as a companion, but swimming
deeper, the sword-ish, and now and then can
be seen the shark. On sighting their prey,
which the killer sees at o great distance, the
pack gives chase; the unconscious whale is
slowly moving near the surface, and occasion
ally spouting, as it were in sport, jets of water
above him. But he now suddenly sees the "sea-
wolfn near him. Instinctat once teaches him
that on the surface he cannot be safe, and,
taking in a long breath, he fukes-that is,
dives. But there has been another enemy
watching him from the depths below, the
ssword fish," which now darts at him with the
velocity of Lightning and perforates the whale
beneath with his long and spearlike nose.
This sends him at once to the surface Here
he again meets with his enemy, the "killer,"
but as yet they are afraid to approach him.
The whale now begins to see the extent of
his danger, and for time merely lashes the
water with his ponderous fuke. He soon tires
of this, and remains for short time at rest !;
the pack now approach him, and he seeks
safety in fight. But what can he do? The
poor whale has lump on, his back and steers
unsteadily, while the killers tall and stiff fin
steadies him on his course. Nearer and nearer
approaches the pack 10 their victim; again he
takes a long breath and dives. The sword-f fish
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-ish, which
again darts and perforates his prey, and sends
the wounded whale again to the surface. The
race again commences, but this time with di-
minished speed, the killers having separated to
watch the rise Of the whale, who, finding his
enemies in every direction, courses in circle,
and again makes a third, and sometimes a
fourth, attempt to escape by diving, but is al |
ways met by the terrible spike of the sword
fish. He at last, weak, exhausted, and dispirt-
ed, returns to the surface, where he again at
tempts escape by flight. Streams of blood
mark his course; his enemies still follow stead
ily after him, until he stops and begins to lash
and make the ocean foam around him; but
now large streams Of his life-blood are pouring
out, and he is only increasing his weakness by
the exertion, and merely lashing amidst his
own gore. Tired, exhausted, and faint, he rolls
over. The deep red streaks of blood flowing
from large ori6ces in his white belly can now be
distinctly seeu. The hungry pack now close,
and one more bold than the rest seizes him
near the throat and tears away the white skin
and fat. He opens his mouth and bellows with
pain. This is generally the signal for a COM
bined attack. His tongue is seized and torn
from his mouth so are his eyes. The sword
fish now rises to the surface, and his tall spear
like protuberance is seen projecting over the
body Of the whale; the sharks also close in and
feed on the fat rejected by the killers. In this
state the whale makes few dying struggles.
The feast now commences and continues until
the fat and sufficient flesh is stripped off to
cause the carcase to become too heavy to fioat
on the surface and sinks. The shark is left to
enjoy his few streaks of fat, while the killer
pack, accompanied by their companion, the
sword-Gsh, rove again the. broad ocean to seek
another leyiathan Of the great deep.
w. D. PORTER, Y. S. Navy.