Big Game with a Revolver 311 



graph them, but was never successful until in 

 September, 1909, when I caught the big fellow 

 on the plate, showing his tall fin, and the curi- 

 ous saddle-like marks; rather an unsatisfactory 

 photograph, but possibly the first one ever taken 

 of Oreo, ater really at home. 



We had been trolling for tuna and swordfish 

 off the southeast end of San Clemente Island 

 on the launch Juanita when we suddenly espied 

 the school of three orcas coming down the chan- 

 nel. An orca has never been taken with a line 

 and doubtless never will be, so it was an ami- 

 able diversion to try them; but they paid no 

 attention to the lure of a big flying fish. Then 

 our host and Stewart Edward White being re- 

 markable revolver shots, it was proposed to try 

 and get one this way, as there was an oppor- 

 tunity, seemingly, when the killer rose to breathe 

 and plunge down again. 



It was an interesting and impressive sight as 

 the orcas came on, now side by side, the big 

 angular pointed fins, like the black sails of some 

 mimic ship, resting on the ocean. They paid 

 little or no attention to our twenty-five-foot boat, 

 nor did the propeller seem to annoy or frighten 

 them, and it was an excellent opportunity to se- 

 cure a specimen that I doubt can be seen in any 

 American museum. 



As they came on, now in plain sight, now be- 

 neath the vivid blue water, the launch was 



