The times., 1901-04-21
WHALES DANGEROUS TO SHIPS
Collisions Between Marine Leviath-
ans and Vessels often Occur.
(From the Scientific American.)


The coast of southern California is pro-
tected TO a certain extent by the islands
off shore. The group begins at Santa Bar
bara, with San Miguel; then come Santa
Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa. and farther
out to sea thirty miles, San Nicolas. The
next following south are Santa Barbara,
Santa Catalina San Clement, and then,
with break of seventy miles, the CorO-
nadoes. These islands are almost parallel
to the coast range and constitute virtual
iy an out-to-sea coast range Of noun
tainS. which, in all probability. were
thrust up at the time the coast was
formed, leaving a deep depression be
tween them and the mainland.
This region of extremely deep water is
a famous roadway for whales several
kinds being found there, feeding upon the
vast schools Of jeliyhshes which are
nearly always present. The whale most
common is the California grey, which goes
every year to the shadows Of the Gulf Of
California To give birth TO its young. then
moving north along the California coast
ia what is virtually a great procession.
At this time the channel is the sporting
ground for the huge animals and nearly
every steamer that crosses sights school
the scene forming one of the attractions
of the trip, as the whales, far from being
wild or timid evince "A playful mood, or.
melted by curiosity, come near the steam
er, atfOrding the passengers near view
Of the largest Of living animals.
This social disposition has resulted in
several encounters between the whales
always come off second best. Some years
ago a steamer on the trip from San Pedro
70 san Francisco struck some body sup
posed al first to be q log. Several OF the
men were thrown to the deck: the wheel
turned over so violently that the helms
man was also thrown down. and the
steamer for the moment came 70 stand
still All hands were called the pumps
sounded, and as the mate ran aft he saw
a large whale lashing the water astern.
The vessel had struck it directly back OF
the right paddle and evidently crushed it
down, rising over it. This whale drifted
into Santa Catalina some days later and
was tOwed into one Of the little bays of
the coast, where it was cut up by the
During the summer Of 1900 the steamer
Hermosa killed a whale off San Pedro
which was at least eighty feet IN length.
The steamer was blowing along at rate
of twelve miles an hour. when suddenly
a large whale rose To spout directly In
front Of her, placing itself inadvertently
across her bows, so that the blow was
struck fairly. The shock tCreated a sen
sation on board, and ethe blow was so
violent that several people Were thrown
from their feet II was supposed that
the vessel had struck a sunken rock; she
stopped for few seconds, trembled. then
rose about three feet, heeing slightly.
then resumed her course. passing through
mass Of blood which colpred the water.
showing that she had plunged into some
large animal dead whale was sighted
two days later. and for ssheral days, on
account of its size. 1t dTifted up and
down the coast with The tide. defying the
efforts of speculative sfsh@men to secure
it. Finally heavy sea tbssed il on the
coast at the resort IT RedOndo, where il
was hauled mat higtf'tide. and when the
latter went out II lefE a marvellous spec
tacle of the remains of one of the largest
living animals Hundreds of people Wis
tied the spot before II was dismembered
A long wound told the story of it's con
tact with the steamer. which was wholly
uninjuTed.
Doubtless if the records OF shipping dis
asters We're examined many instances
would be found where vessels had crashed
into whales with results fatal to the ami
mails and more or less injurious TO the yes
sells. In this connection curious incident
may be related regarding the actions OF a
school of whales al the island of Santa
Rosa Cal. The channel between this
island is narrow and often extremely
rough. and during a storm II was believed
by those on the island that the whales
became demoraIized, as they deliberately
ran ashore and the remarkable sight of
five or six large whales helpless~on the
sands was observed Their bones re-
mained for long time on what became
known as the whales graveyard.