Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-05-06
THE KILLER WHALE.
WASHINGTON. ApnrL 27.

WASHINGTON APRIL 27.
Messrs. EDIToRs: In Lieut.. MAunYs description Of
the whale he made remarks on FISH Of the aboye
species called the killer This fish is described in Por-
ters journal Of Cruise in the Pacific" This fish is SC
well known to the old salts Of the whaling trade and Pa
cfc cruisers that have always thought it equally well
known to the scientific Having than one occasion
been eyewitness of the attacks Of this fish on the whale
| viii attempt description of it.
The killer is the wolf of the ocean, and hunts in packs
and their tall dora fin be constantly seen above the
water This hsh has always as companion, but SWIM
ming DEEPER the sDord and and then can be seen
the a6 On sighting their prey, which the killer sees
at great distance the pack gives chase the
whale is slowly moving the surface and occasionally
spouting as it in sport Jets of water above him
But ne now suddenly the sea-wof" near him. In
snct at once teaches him that the he cannot
be safe, and taking in long breath, he ukes that is
dives But there has been another enemy watching 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-ike nose
This sends him to the surface; here he AGAIN
with his enemy the killer" but as vet thew are
afraid to approach him. The whale now begins to see
the extent Of his danger and for time merely the
water with his ponderous uke. He tires of this
and remains for short time at rest the pack now ap-
proach him, and he seeks safety in fight But what can
he do? The poor whale has hump on his back and
steers unsteadily, while the killers tall and stiff fin stea.
the pack their victim again he takes long breath and
dives The sword fish has steadily kept him in view he
too has tall fin and long slender propeling tail and
while it is effort to the whale to increase his speed it
is but play the swordfsh which again darts and per-
raes his prey and sends the wounded whale again to
the surface The again commences, but this time
with diminished speed the killers having separated to
watch the rise Of the whale who finding his enemies in
every direction, in circle, and again makes
third and sometimes fourth attempt to escape by div
ing but is always met by the terrible spike of the
sword-fsh He at last weak, exhausted and disprited,
returns to the surface where he again attempts 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 foam around him but now
large streams of his febood pouring ont. and he is
only increasing his weakness by the exerton and merely
lashng amidst his gore Tired exhausted and faint
he rolls over The deep red streaks of blood flowing
from large orifces in his white belly now be distinctly
seen. The hungry pack close, and one more bold
than the rest sezes him the throat and away
the white skin and fat he opens his mouth and bellows
with pain This is generally the signal for combined
attack His tongue is seized and torn from his mouth
his eyes. The swordfsh rises the surface,
and his tall spGrGke protuberance is projecting
tie body of the whae 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
and continues until the fat and sufficient flesh is stripped
of to the to become too heavy float
the surface and sinks The shark is left enjoy his few
sreaks of fat while the killer pack accompanied by their
companion the sword fish, again the broad to
seek another leviathan of the great deep.
W. d. PORTER, U. S. Navy.