Big Game at Sea 



eater; is a sodden blood-lustful brute, a scavenger of 

 the seas, a midnight prowler seeking devious paths 

 to accomplish its ends; but the killer charges the 

 largest of all animals, the whale, and the story of its 

 life is one of relentless carnage. 



" Whole kingdoms fell 

 To sate the lust of power ; more horrid still 

 The foulest stain and scandal of our nature, 

 Became its boast, ' One murder made a villain, 

 Millions, a hero/ " 



Lines which might well apply to the orca in its 

 raids upon the animal life. 



For a number of years I have watched the move- 

 ments of a school of orcas in the Santa Catalina 

 Channel, one of which was hooked by an angler in 

 the manner described. They are present the entire 

 year presumably, but are more common in the sum- 

 mer months, sailing up and down, having a rendez- 

 vous off what is known as the tuna fishing grounds, 

 a range of five or six miles in extent, from Long Point 

 on the island of Santa Catalina to the sea lion rook- 

 ery on the south end. The reason for this is obvious, 

 as the savory tuna is a tid-bit, a bonne bouche for the 

 orca, and doubtless the greatest of all fishes often 

 falls a victim to its rapacity. Then, too, the sulphur- 

 bottom whale frequents the Santa Catalina Channel, 

 several often being seen, as well as the gray whale, 

 each of which is at times a victim to the fury 



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