198 CHANNEL ISLANDS OF CALIFORNIA 



the kelp some five miles to the south. It was towed 

 inshore and beached, and was visited by hundreds 

 from all over. It had a deep gash in its side where 

 the cutwater of the vessel had struck it. The whale 

 was finally prepared and the skeleton placed on exhibi- 

 tion at Long Beach. 



" Several years later the same steamer struck another 

 whale. As before, she seemed to rise up onto the 

 great body, cutting into it. The whale had come up 

 to blow directly in front of her. This whale was also 

 found later in the kelp beds. If there was a fleet of 

 steamers in this channel you would hear of a lot of 

 whales killed," concluded the man, "as they seem to 

 take the hull of a ship for another whale of some kind 

 and want to be pleasant, and so get hit." 



Porpoises are common in the channel and can often 

 be seen racing along; and at least one big keller whale 

 {Orca ater) is a familiar sight in summer. 



Dolphins we found, but not often. I have seen but 

 one taken in a number of years. Several species of 

 seals abound, but are not common, the sea-lion being 

 the seal referred to. As it is protected it becomes 

 very tame. 



Three large turtles are found in the channel: the 

 great leather tortoise of all seas, with huge longitudinal 

 ridges, and two smaller turtles — the CaHfornia green, 

 and California loggerhead turtles. These are very 

 common along the Lower Californian coast where they 

 nest and live. Those taken north are mere wanderers 

 from the south. 



The islands are remarkably free from noxious insects. 

 Mosquitoes are not indigenous; fleas are present only 

 where camps are neglected, unswept, and unwatered. 



