Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-09-27
AN OCEAN FIGHTER,
Tho feroeious orca ana Its Method of Sc
curing Its prCy.

more to be dreaded than the shark, be-
ing most rapaclous creature, attack
ing everything from whales to man.
They are found in various seas, but in
the Pacific attain their greatest size
and ferocity, If the reports of whalers
and others can be credited.
The rapacity of the orca is past be-
Eel and its ferocity can only be com
pared to that Of a bulldog, as it will
repeatedly attack large animals, and
even risk its own life in the attain
ment OF its desires.
Some years ago some sealers and sea-
elephant hunters were in camp on some
OF the coast islands of California. Their
method was to row around the island
IN The morning and shoot the seals
inc morning, in making their tour,
they saw an enormous fish, as they sup.
posed, leap clear of the water and seize
seal that was hanging over the edge
OF the rocks. In another moment an
other dashed out, showing itself an
orca of at least twenty-five feet in
length The tide was low, and the
rocks, covered with kelp, gave the
enormous creature a soft bed to lie on,
and it floundered about in mighty
struggles, finally making its way back
into the water.
Soon another orca made similar
leap; and it was evident that these car
nivorous whales were circling the rocky
shore in search of seals, which they at
tempted to pick off the rocks as hawk
would sparrow.
When hungry and crazed by their
chase they will attack anything; but
their legitimate prey appears to be the
great whalebone whale-an ungainly
and cumbersome animal four times its
size. These whales, while they are
large and powerful enough to throw a
large boat into the air by toss of the
tail, are in other ways entirely defense
less, the great mouth being de-
void of teeth. This helpless giant
is attacked by dozen of these
wolves of the sea, and then be-
gins battle of giants. At their
first appearance the whale generally
sounds, hoping in this way to avoid its
tormentors, the big animal at times
diving almost mile perpendicularly,
and, if wounded, often striking the
bottom with such force that they are
seriously injured.
The willy orcas do not attempt to fol
low, knowing that the whale must re-
turn to the surface, when their attacks
are renewed. Three or four of the ami.
mails will rush at the whale at time,
attaching the vulnerable parts, as the
lips, and with their sharp teeth doing
great damage. The whale has no de-
Tense, except its TAIL and this mighty
organ is whirled about like a sledge
hammer with Il force that would stave
the largest ship; but the orcas cleverly
avoid it.
The crew of whaler once observed
whale leap entirely clear of the water
rising ten or fifteen feet above it, and
clinging to its sides were several orcas
The whale fell with crash that sound
ed like thunder, then thrashed about
beating the water into foam in vair
efforts to rid itself of its terrible foes
who chung to it and undoubtedly sue
ceeded in the end in killing it.
The orcas will often attack the young
of whales when terrific fights occur
the parent being reused to the greatest
frenzy The mother endeavors to place
| l,n ,u1,a 10 x.,liah ic ba n
large as the orcas, in front of her, JUS
below the mouth, and encourages it t.
remain in this position, swimming
off us rapidly as possible; but tn,
orcas are as cunning as wolves
Several will now attack the mother
from behind and upon the side, while
Others after the fashion of The
privateer, rush in and endeavor to Gu
the baby, which, demoralized at the
confusion, swims out of reach of it
mother and is immediately seized b!
the orcas, the mother whale charging
the cannibals with savage but vail
rushes.
The ferocity and appetite of the orc;
can hardly be realized. One slxteel
feet in length has been known to de
your thirteen porpoises and fourteen
seals in a few hours, all these animal
having been found in the stomach o
one captured. They kill and devou
for the mere passion of killing; and
when charging school of porpoises
have been known to devour as many a
possible and then slaughter and main
the rest, driving scores of them higl
and dry upon the beach.
In chasing the porpoise, they oftel
toss them high into the air by rislnI
up beneath them, when another orc;
will leap upward and seize the POI
poise literally in the air and bear ]
away.
The largest of the marine mammal
avoid the orca, or the killer, as it
often called. The sea-lions, who's
powerful jaws make them active enc
mics of other animals, fly before them
and it is said that even the walru
looks upon the orca with fear. TIL
orca rarely attacks the walrus, it
enormous tusks and size are evidentl
a menace and suggestive of power
full enemy. The orca does not entirel
neglect the walrus, however, ofte
preying upon the young, an
its many tricks and attempt
to catch the infantn arc most ,ss u
teresting. In the water, the youn
walrus, like the hippopotamus, ofte
sits on the back Of its mother, and th
killer has been known to attack tn
parent from behind, while anothe
dashed ont of the water and in the al
swapping at the young.
Another expedient is often success
full. The walrus is generally foun
where there is heavy ice, the animt
lying on an ice-cake near shore. Th
orcas, observing this, swim along on
voyage of observation, and fully detei
mine in their minds method of attacl