A TOUGH STRUGGLE.

Evening Star, Issue 3888, 10 August 1875, Page 3

A TOUGH STRUGGLE.

“ Captain Rand, Cue of the most able and popular ship-masters in the coast tiade, says the ‘ Sau Francisco Bulletin,’ “ thus describes an encounter between a boat’s crew under his command and a sea-monster. The captain was in command of the schooner Morning Star, on her voyage from the Galapagos Islands to San Francisco, and had put into Cruz for wood and water. While lying there one morning, as (ho water-boat was going ashore, an immense lish was seen swimming about the schooner. Its great size astonished eveiy one, but as the captain had attacked .whales, he did not scruple to

assail this monster, and having a harpoon, bent it to the boat’s painter and let drive. As soon as the fish took the iron it set off for the mouth of the harbor, pulling the boat through the water at a pace that made the (bam curl high 'bver her sides and threatened to dip her by the nose e very moment. Every now and then t lie fish would sound, which compelled ;all bauds to rush astern to prevent the from following the monster. As it rose, the mate, who had a blubberknife in his hands, would thrust away ‘energetically ; but though pierced with a hundred wounds the monster kept on, seemingly proof against death. The situation of the crew now became critical. They had reached the mouth of the bay, and were in a fair way of going out to sea; but as they were | about cutting the line a lucky stroke made by the mate with his blubberspade put an end to the monster. Having killed it, the sailors were anxious to have a good look at their victim. It was accordingly hauled ashore, and the tide going out, was left high and dry ’on the beach. It was evidently a fire-flare—a fish of the flounder variety, and one of the largest whose capture has been recorded Its size was 18ft by 12ft, the body at the be , mg ab °ut 4ft through, and the tail sft long.”