Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-08-28
The Sea Wolf.


might perhaps be f4ncied. The shark Is IN
deed ravenoua aud voracious but in ferocity
and destruc.ivsness 1t is far inferior to the
crrs, another inbabitant of the world OF
waters. and yet not G fish.
The oroa, or grappus, as 1t is sometimes
called, is member OF the whale family-a
sort of third cousin to the whale aud hrst
cousin 10 the porpoiss. II is usually from
Is to 80 feet in length, and has large
mouth, we'll supplied with long, conioal,
curved teeth. Ia color it is black above and
white below, With white patch above each
little eye. It is easily distinguished frcm it's
relative by the dorsa flo, which is some
times fess long, and rises abruptly from
the back.
To call THE cresture tbs "wolf of the sea''
doss not tell half the story OF its savage na-
turc TIE wolf seems puny foe compared
to tbs orcs. Fer there are animals on land
which the volt dares not attack, even when
hard driven by hunger but there is nothing
inhabilirg the water ghiCh ths orca Will not
asseii. Moreover, the we'll is almost COW
sfd!y except when made dangerous By fam
inc; but the orca is always dangerous, or
cannot satisfy It's hunger. That its appetite
seems iDsatisbe seems likely, for au orca
was once found choked TO death by seal
which it had tried to swallcW whole. An
examination showed that the gluttonous
monster had already swallowed number of
uurposeP, besides several eeals.
As il not satisfied with the harm it can do
alone, The orca secures the aid of two or
three Of its fellows, snd then the little pack
of monsters starts Oh an expedition. Every
- O nh mi NJ
phins comes 10 sight, away go the fierce sea
wolves in hot chase The frightened dol
phius dash msdlg through the waves, urged
10 their swiftest speed by terror, but grimIy
the ;avenous pursuers close upon the flying
quarry.
Perhaps gres. Greenland whale may
cross the path of the marauderH. Huge az
it is the !arges. o: created beiDgs-it has no
terro.s FOR the blood shirsty pack. They
dart about The giaut with lightning veloc,-
ty; now in font, now underneath, now on
the sides, until the bewiideTod monster, with
q lash of his ponderous tell, turns bis mighty
lead downward and sssks the oceans bed.
Vain effort! His tormea.ovs follow him
apparently with ferocious giles. Up, up
again, ;ase sud agony lending added
strength, I'LL the surfsoe is reached, sod ell
that bulk Of flesh shoots cut of the water
and then falls with ponderous crash, dash-
ing the boiling wayea asunder Still the
agile foes ere there They leap over his
head, high 10 the air, ard dive under aim.
They rush st MIN, here, there aDd any
where He opens his huge mouth to engulf
them. They only mock at the danger, and
soou, wounded In a hundred places, weak
ened and powetless, tbs whale snccombs.
Even the fierce walrus. armed with enor-
nous tusks which 1t well knows how TO use,
is 30 match for the orca. l. is only the
young walrus however. for which the orca
cares, and it will not hesitate TO pursue one
into the very midst of herd OF waruses,
trusting to superior swiftness to enable it to
carry of the prey 10 safety.
This young wslrus is we'll aware Gifts dan
ger, and the moment On orca comes in sight
the poor thing climbs frauIiceliy upon Its
mothers back and cings there in agony of
fear. The willy orca is not to be foiled so
eaeily however Il dives down and then
comes up with q sudden surge, striking the
mother warus such blow that the little one
is knocked from her back into the water and
is seized 10 twinkling.
So rapid swimn IS the orca that 1t eas-
lily overtakes the salmon, and often pursues
them into the rivers. Its swiftness, feroci-
ty and rspacity make the orca the terror Of
the ocesn.-John r. CoryelI in 81. Nicholas.