OCEAN FISH AND OCEAN FISHING 49 



distance off), and a steady trade-wind sprang up 

 from the north-east. 



One afternoon I mounted into the mizzen-top, 

 a favourite post of mine, whence a more com- 

 prehensive view of the sea could be had than from 

 the poop. Glancing round, my eye was caught by 

 a frightful commotion in the water about twelve 

 miles off on the port bow, the sea being lashed 

 into foam around a big whale, while every now 

 and again a comparatively small fish reared itself 

 up on its tail and fell upon the leviathan's back. 

 " What's up ? " bawled out the skipper in response 

 to my shout. " Come and look ! " I replied. 



In a moment he was by my side. " Why ! it's 

 a whale tackled by killers — threshers some people 

 called them," he exclaimed. " Keep her off a 

 point ! " he called out to the man at the wheel ; 

 and, with her course slightly altered, the good 

 ship was close up to the combatants, who were 

 too absorbed to notice her, and then she being 

 brought close to the wind, we forged slowly 

 ahead with them. The captain, I must add, was 

 an old whaler, a most intelligent man, and like 

 most sailors, a close observer of nature. 



Two killers— gladiator-dolphins or sword- 

 grampuses I (the names are interchangeable), about 

 • Flesh-eating whales, with formidable jaws. 

 4 



