THE QUEER FREAK OF A WHALE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1316, 20 May 1897, Page 10

THE QUEER FREAK OF A WHALE.

Strange as it may appear, quite a number of instances have been known of whales, porpoises and other inhabitants of the ocean that had a positively embarrassing fondness for human society. Thus, up to 1881 a certain porpoise, familiarly known as ''Bob," was a constant attendant on ships traversing a particular part of the coast of Florida. "Bob" was easily recognisable by a j>eculiar cut in his dorsal fin, caused by a revolver shot. The porpoise, however, was very proud of his wound, since it was exhibited at every opportunity to the occupants of passing vessels. "Bob" would come near the ship, and either follow it or gambol about the bow or stern,' but its favourite position was about 100 yards away, within good rifle shot, where it would swim along parallel with the course of the vessel, a tempting target to marksmen. So, in course of time, " Bob's" back became seared and scarred, and if report was to be believed, lie carried in his blubber not a few ounces of lead. In the Pacific some whales are very friendly. These whales, it should be said, are perfectly harmless, and their attentions arise merely from curiosity; but to have several of these huge creatures, from forty to sixty feet long, floating about in close proximity is not altogether pleasant. What is supposed to be the same whale seems during the summer to keep a special look-out for one particular steamer, and either follows it along or plays about it, entertaining the passengers by spouting. On one trip tho whale swam ahead of the steamer and kept pace with it so deliberately that the captain was obliged first to slow down and finally stop, lest he should run into the huge creatuvo. Perhaps the most remarkable instance of friendliness on the part of whales was experienced by tho owner of a yacht that sailed from one of the southern Califomian ports. She became becalmed in the second day out, when suddenly four or five large whales came alongside, and for several hours amused themselves at the expense of the crew. They rubbed their backs against the bottom of the yacht, and blew and spouted so that the drops fell upon the decks. Indeed, they only left her when a breeze sprang up and she get under way. Fishermen on the Atlantic coast are occasionally troubled with inquisitive whales. One small vessel was followed for miles, the whale once gently lifting it by rising beneath it, frightening the fisherman, who pulled for the shore as fast as he I could, the whale following until the water began to uhoal. Why whales should follow vessels seems somewhat of a mystery, but in all probability they consider the vessel a companion of some sort. Tho close proximity of such large animals to ships suggests a possible danger ; yet fatalities are rare, and few a»re known where the whale has not been i attacked.

The terrible incident of the Essex is perhaps the only one. Here the whale was run down by the ship, the shock from the • contact being so severe as to throw the crew to the deck and almost to dismast the vessel. The whale swam off, and a few moments later the look-out cried out thit it was coming straight for them. Inspired by revenge, the monster, travelling at full speed, struck the ship so powerful a blow that her bow uas smashed in, and the vessel went to the bottom ten minutes later, leaving her crew in boats 700 miles from the coast of South America. —From Chums for March.