The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-07-19
EMPORIA. NEW S.
FRIDAY, JULY L, 1872.
LASsOING sRA-LIONs.

Our vessel was staunch ten
ton schooner; the crew, all told.
six; and we went out of |
the Golden Gate with the mid
night ebb tide. 1t was the inten-
ton to go direct to the Farallones,
but northwest wind and a heavy
sea brought our craft up in
brakes Bay. On the third day
out we made the FaraIlones, but
the sea was too high to attempt a
landing, and we bore away for
Halfmoon Bay. Here we found
some seal, but, after swapping a
boat, found it impracticable, on
account of the surf, to get on the
rocks, and so we hoisted anchor
and sailed south. Both above and
below Monterey there were seve-
raj large seal rookeries. Near
Santa Cruz we came to two rocks
the area of both of which above
half tide did not exceed 100 yards
square, and these were literally
covered and surrounded with seal,
some of which were of the largest
class, known as sea lions. The
rocks were half a mile from land,
and sloped gently seward. We
anchored in blight a mile from
the rocks, and prepared for raid.
Our boats, which by the way were
miserable cookie shells, and in dan
ger of being swamped by a wind
wrinkle of the sea, and rs we
found to our cost, were worthless
in even an ordinary surf, were
launched, with men, cages and
tackle on board, and away we
went. We got on the rocks in the
midst of several hundred seal,
some of which would weigh, with
out exaggeration, as high as two
tons, and nearly as many pups
from an hour to two or three
weeks of age. The barking, growl-
ing and roaring, for they are of
different kinds and voices, of these
animals, which, at this season of
the year, is as constant as the roar
Of the SURF, became deafening as
we reached the rocks, and if it had
been heard by Gilmore, he would
have no doubt taken measures to
capture the whole herd to furnish
an internal basso for his Boston
Jubilee concert. We landed with
out difficulty, and then found out
that of our vaqueros we had only
one who could lasso gate post at
ten feet distance, although every
fellow, ambitious of the distinction
Of himself capturing a monster,
twirled and threw his lariat with
out success, and failed to assist
"Gus." who caught one every time,
but was unable to hold any of
them, and so our first attempt was
a failure, although the sport was
intensely exciting. A seal can
only be held by keeping the lariat
taut, especially if they get into the
water, and hence it is easy to re-
lease them by Stacking rope, and
at the time save the rope. The
piscatorially acrobatic and tumb-
ling feats of the large ones we
fastened on to were equally anus
ing and astonishing. Although so
clumsy on land, they are the most
active animal that swims, and can
catch any fish in the sea, and the
case with which they handle them
selves in heavy breakers would
not be believed by any one who
only sees them on land.
A capture of a splendid speci-
men of the large white species, or
a genuine lioness, rewarded our
second effort. A number of them
returned close to US upon the rock,
in response to the bleating of the
pups, but still near the water.
Several lassos were tied together
SO that the six of US might hold
fast. Gus threw the loop over the
head Of one of the largest of the
animals, and then the sport began.
In spite of all we could do we
could not hold her on the rock,
and after she got into the water it
was found necessary to fasten the
end of the rope to a jutting rock.
The programme was then to tire
her out, and it was a long one, and
performed to the music of an IN
earthly chorus of the roars and
bellowings of the whole herd
which had gathered around, and
of the incessant bleating of the
calves. After firing ourselves for
an hour or more than we tired the
lioness, although she kept up a
continual round of wonderful gy-
rations, we fortunately struck up
on the expedient of hauling her
up with the heavy surf that broke
high up on the rock, keeping the
rope taut at every advance. In
this way We got her well up on the
rock, and provoked her to a fur
Their advance by going in front of
her, when with mouth open and in
q fury of rage she would leap at us
in whatever direction we wished.
By this time we had three ropes
on her, and her hind flippers were
fastened and she had evidently be-
come somewhat exhausted, al
6AOuSA oOA11 1uI1OuSs AC CSl1FcS
gathered around in great numbers,
and she seized every one that came
within reach of her, and crunch
ing its flesh and bones viciously,
thrashed the rock with their bodies.
The cage was ready made except
the top, but she stoutly resisted
the attempt to throw it over her,
bottom up, frequently catching it
in her mouth and tearing off the
planks. At last we succeeded in
getting her within it and the top
under her and lashed, and the cage
was towed to the schooner a mile
distant. through the rocks and
breakers and kelp, and safely
hoisted on board, an operation
which any one who undertakes
it will testify that it is very hard
work.
At Point New Years there is an
immense roekery of the largest
class of seals, and the business of
killing them for their oil was dill
gently and profitably pursued
every year, from April until July,
until this year, when the light
house authorities prohibited the
killing of them Alta Califor-
mia.