The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21
WHALES DANGEROUS TO SHIPS.
Collisions Between Marine Levinth-
ans and Vessels often Occur.
tFrom The scientihc American)

(From the Scientific Americana
The coast of southern California is pro
tected to a certain extent by the Islands
of 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 a break of seventy miles, the Coro-
nadoes. These islands are almost parallel
TO the coast range. and constitute virtual
~ 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
in what is virtually 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 playful mood or.
melted by curiosity. come near the steam
er affOrding the passengers near view
of the largest of living animals.
This social disposition has resulted IN
several encounters between the whales
and the vessels. in which the former have
always come OF second best. Some years
ago Stea mer on the trip from San Pedro
to San Fra lciscO struck some body, sup
posed at first to be log Several of the
men were thrown 10 the deck; the wheel
turned over so violently that the helms
imam was also thrown down. and the
steamer for the moment came to stand
still. All hands were called. the pumps
sounded. and as the mate ran aft he saw
large whale lashing the water astern.
The vessel had struck il directly back Of
the right paddle and evidently crushed II
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
| fishermen.
During the summer az 1900 the steamer
/ Hermosa killed whale OF San Pedro
which was at least eighty feet In length.
/ The steamer was blowing along at rate
of twelve miles an hour, when suddenly
! :, large whale rose to spout directly in
! front Of her. placing itself inadvertently
! across her bows. so that the blow was
/ struck fairly. The shqki,1 created a SEN
/ sation on board, and Ethe blow was so
! violent that several people Were thrown
I from their feet II was supposed that
1 the vessel had struck sunken rock. she
/ stopped for few seconds trembled. then
! rose about three feet, heeling slightly,
/ then resumed her course. passing through
/ a mass of bloojs which colpred the water.
/ showing that she had plunged into some
| large animal. a dead whale was sighted
| two days later. and for ssAeral days on
! account of its size. lit dTifted up and
| down the coast with The tide, defying the
! efforts of speculative ,fishsTmen to secure
| it. Finally a heavy Sea essed II on the
coast at the resort ofi Rehondo. where it
was hauled mat higlf'tide. and when the
| latter went out II left marvellous spec
| tacle of the remains of one of the largest
| living animals. Hundreds of people Wis
| tied the spot before It was dismembered.
| A long wound told the story Of its con-
| tact with the steamer. which was wholly
| uninjured.
| Doubtless if the records of shipping dis
| asters were 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 a curious incident
may be related regarding the actions Of a
/ school of whales at the island Of Santa
| Rosa. Cal The channel between this
| island Is narrow and often extremely
| rough, and during storm IL was believed
| by those on the island that the whales
became demoralized. as they delibera tely
! ran ashore, and the remarkable sight of
five or six large whales helpless~on the
sands was observed. Their bones re-
manned for "A long time on what became
| known the whales graveyard