122 HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 



humpback, sulphur-bottom, fin-back, and grey whales. 

 They were mostly distinguishable to us, apart from the 

 difference in size, by the height and position of the dorsal 

 fin. But it was the "killers" or orca that interested us most. 

 The length of the smaller species would be from twelve to 

 fifteen feet. From four to eight of them in a gang would 

 sometimes dash in among the half-submerged rocks, 

 evidently on the look out for seals or otters; they would at 

 times surround the boats without showing the least symp- 

 tom of fear, and almost graze against them. Wonderfully 

 quick and active in their movements, they disappear as 

 suddenly as they present themselves to view, leaving the 

 observer with a sense of relief that he is not the object of 

 their pursuit. We never molested them, though frequently 

 tempted to do so ; and, from what I have since heard of 

 their pugnacity, perhaps, as a canny Scot, with true north- 

 ern politeness, remarked to a friend of mine who apologised 

 for having pushed against him, " It was just as weel." 



The second species would be about sixteen to twenty 

 feet in length, with a dorsal fin of from eighteen inches to 

 two feet in height. These animals sometimes overhauled 

 the schooner, ranging themselves on either side, after 

 passing round and underneath it, watching our appearance 

 and movements so carefully as to leave a strong impression 

 that their intentions were by no means peaceable, and that 

 they quite meditated an attack upon what they had, in all 

 probability, taken for a whale. They were symmetrically 

 built with a great deal of white on the belly and sides, and 

 were generally in twos or fours. We were always glad 

 when they left us without giving us much anxiety, for 

 their examination was soon over and they quickly came 

 to the conclusion that our vessel was not the game they 

 sought. 



The third species were about thirty feet long and had 

 a dorsal fin of about three feet in height. They were 

 generally met with in pairs ; their slower and steadier 

 movements, as they regularly hunted the bays, seemed to 



