p. 576 | Whales in the Bay by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 18, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 36.

Whales in the Bay.

By Editor

The San Francisco papers notice that some fishermen have been badly scared by whales rising near their boats, in one instance within thirty feet of an Italian, who vigorously crossed himself and called upon the Virgin to protect him. But we had a nearer view of one than that. While on the bay last week in a small craft, we saw two whales sporting in the waters near the Golden Gate. A large one appeared to be moving across our track, and our "associate editor" stood in the bow to watch for him. He arose about fifteen feet from our bow, and gave us a splendid sight of almost his entire body. Had we been even a few seconds in advance of our position, he might have risen under us. We have seen hundreds up this coast, and we recognized this as a large one—upon whose back our boat would have risen like a cork. It was a rare opportunity to view such a monster of the deep.