Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1908 — Antics of the Whale. [ARTICLE]

Antics of the Whale.

When a naval architect plans an Improvement In marine construction he generally has little thought for its effect on the denizens of the sea. The man who invented bilge keels, however, says a writer on Suoth America, provided the whales of the Brazilian coat with Just the sort of backscratcher they needed. Insect pests annoy the whale, and, barnacles find a home on a large part of his body. Sometimes the monsters may be seen rooling on a shallow sandy bottom to displace these pests, or rubbing themselves on the rocks or reefs. On one occaakm the mail steams/ Orissa was stoppid (curing a denss fog a few miles off Santa Maria Island in the Pacific. The coast being-dan-gerous, an anchor was let down sixty fathoms or so, and the ship allowed to drift in the smooth water. About 6 in the morning the captain heard some h-avy whale “blows” or "spouts” apparently close at hand. Shortly afterward a continued tremor of the chip was felt. It was too gentle for an earthquake, and was varied with bumps. Soon a huge whale rose slowly out of the water and floated alongside, like a bark bottom up. It again descended and the tremors recommenced. Then the crew noticed barnacles anfl shellfish coming to the surface, and the secret was out The whale was scraping himself—currying himself—on the sharp plate that projected as a steadier from the vessel's bilge. Not caring to have him so near, IS case he should smash the boats, tha captain had him pelted with potatoes and coal; but he took no notice of It till a piece was swallowed by mistake. Then he drenched the vessel thoroughly and “steamed” away, a last flourish of his Indignant tall indicating that he was seeking quiet in the greater depths.