Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-10-15
TAME OCEAN FISHES.


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Travellers up and down tho coast Of
FLORIDA will remember certain por'
poisc that for years, and mp 10 1851 IN
tho remembrance of the writer, randri
up and down a quarter section n Tho
Florida peninsula. lie was known ns
Bob. aud though be- rarely answered to
his name he was well known to alb nil.
ofs in those parts Bob was recognized
by peculiar cut in his dorsal tin. civ.
Ing IL the appearance q having win.
dow In IT, Some thoughilcss rass,ng
wishing to practice on al animate no
turo with his revolver. had inflicted this
injury. aud the porpoisc apparently
very proud Of IL. In any event, 10 was
exhibited NJ every opportunity tn the
occupants Of passing vessels. 10 would
come near the vessel, follow % NJ times
or gambol about tho bow or stem. lut
IT, chief position was about 100 yards
away. within good rife shot Whom It
would swim along parallel with tho
course Of the vessel, tempting target
20 maIkmcn So In tho cuur0 90 iimo
n0b's back became scared and scagoi.
md " current report was valued 10 aly
thing he carried In his hlubb0r mot
few Dances II lcad-forciblo reminders
that porpoises aswoll as nlliRatots have
no rights that aro respected On the Flor
ida coast.
In tho Pacific some whalrs are very
friendly. especially on the coast OF Los
Angeles county, Cal. where on moro
than enc occasion they have astonishod
II not alarmed sailing parties who have
been bccalmcd These whales, " should
b. said. arc perfectly harmless. and
their attentions are morcly from curiosi.
~. but to have several " Those huge
creatures from 40 tn 90 feet long float
ing about Ia Close proximity Is not alto.
gothcr pleasant What h supposed 10 be-
the same whale hh- earned q rpuia.
tion for fricndlincss. and during tho
summer months 10 frequently seems To
meet largo steamer that plies oil
shorc, and either follows IL along o.
plays about, entertaining the paSen.
gers by spoutinR. On ono trip the whale
placed itself ahead of tho steamer and
swan with II 40 deliberately that tho
captain was Obliged TO slow down and
finally stop, fearing to run into the hugo
creature
Perhaps tho most remarkable instance
OF friondiincs on the part II whales
was experienced by tho owner Of yacht
that sailed from one Of the southern
California ports, Shc became bocalmed
the second day out, and suddenly four
or i've large whales came alongside and
for several hours amused themselves at
the expense of the crew. who weru a
good deal frightened. They rubbed their
backs against tho bottom Of tho yacht
and blow aud spoutrd 80 that tho drops
fell upon tho decks II the yachismcn
bad thrown over some oil or other dis.
agreeable fluid. they would soon hayo
gotten rid Of thoso companions, which
only left them when hruozo sprang up
and they got under way.
Fishermen un tho Atlantic coast nre
occasionally troubled with inquistiyc
whales Ono boat or dory was followed
for miles, the whale once gently lifting
Il and rising beneath H. terrorixng tho
fisherman. who pulled for tho shurc rs
fast as he could. the whale following
until the water began TO shoal.
Why whales should follow vessels
might seem mystery, but tho solution
IL that In all probability they consider
the vessel companion, another whale
of snmo kind. Thiawas we'll illustrated
ON the California coast hy whale
which evidently took the ship Plymouth
for ono Of IT, kind. This whale was a
sulphur bottom, about 20 feet IN langth.
and it joined the ship OIL the Golden
Gate a. Il left san Francisoo aud no.
mained by IL through the rntifr voyage
10 Realciy ! luth America Tho biz
ish soon b, ans nuisance. 10 swan
alongside Ia such close proximity that
it. hrcath discoloucd the paint NJ tho
chip. Then IL would risp gently boucath
the keel, which would cut and tear H..
Al other timea II would swim along III.
foctly in front and keep tho crow Ia
constant fear ~ collision that might
under certain circumstances tlismast the
ship The men tried almost oyory dry leo
thoy could think Of 10 drive the whale
away. They shot Ut IL with rifles and
pistols, struck It with pitons NJ wood
and bombardcd IL with bottles and hot
Goals ~ ~ came up. but all TO no pur.
pose IL went ON keeping COMPANY"
until the ship finally entered such shoal
watcr that Il was obliged 20 ahpor on.
Tho soclabiliiy ~ dolphns and por.
poiscs il well known. their graceful
gimbols about the Prov Of vessels bong
very common sight No matter how
rapid thopace, these attractive creatures
10 timo their motions that is,y pas. and
rcpass tho dying cutwaurr V!sl the
greatest ease.
Tho close proximity n such largo ani.
mails to vessels might suggest possible
danger, yet fatalities are rare aud few
arc known whore tho whale ha. not
been attacked The terrible Incident VI
The Essex II perhaps tho only one Here
The whale was run down hy tho ship,
the shock from tho contact being 20 so.
yoro "a 10 throw the crow TO tho dock
and almost dismast tho vessel. The
whale swan OFT and few moments
later the lookout cried ont that It was
coming for thHm on the surlnro. The
animal was inspired by revenge, and at
full speed struck tho Ghip In tho bow "a
powerful ALLOW that the bow was crush.
cd m, and the vessel went tn tho bot,
tom ton miuutcs later leaving tho men
IN boats 700 miles from the coast Of