Boca de Panela

A large marine animal, intensely hated by Madeiran fishermen and a relentless enemy of the tuna, which it hunts ferociously, at times closely encircling them and at others scattering them in flight, according to fishermen who have observed it at close quarters. The passage of such animals through the fishing grounds naturally gives the fisherman just cause for annoyance, and can even cause him enormous losses, for it is from tuna fishing that he hopes to draw the best reward for the toil and dangers of his hazardous life.

To this day it has not been possible to identify this species with certainty. It is supposed, however, that it is not a fish but a cetacean, Orca gladiator, which the fishermen of the Algarve call ruaz de bandeira, and which is no less feared there for the serious damage it does to the tuna traps.