Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-05-07
SEAL HUNTING.
A Three Months Cruise IA the 1 ,abaiia
w. among the ISLAM Is OF Our Coast
Incid nts and Accidents OF the Trip,
as Gathered from Gne of the Crew.


as Gathered from 0ne of the Crew.
A few days since we had a call from
Messrs. Miller and Daily, two fair rep
resentatives of the "joliy tar'-genial,
whole-souled men, by the way-who
have just returned from seal hunting
trip among some of the small islands
of the Pacific. From Mr.. Miller, the
spokesman of the occasion, we learned
some interesting facts concerning the
mOdus Operdndi Of capturing the baby
seal, as well as incidents of the trip,
which will furnish acceptable matter
for perusal.
On the 18th of January last, the Isa-
bella w. put out from Santa Cruz, well
provisioned and armed for q war upon
the innocents. The schooner was fur
nished and equipped by Captain
Timms of San Pedro, and Miller and
Daily, accompanied by Mexican boy
as cook andlgeneral roust-about, made
up the party in charge. About 1000
seal were taken, which furnished
yield of $500 gallons of oil. Over
ton and half's weight of fish were also
caught, but this was only as sort of
side issue, the main object of the expe-
| dition being to procure seal oil. The
| young seals were mostly shot while
cavorting around in the water near
| the shore. About $500 Henry rifle
cartridges were thus shot away, and in
every five shots three or four of the
festive creatures were called upon to
deliver up the ghost and join the Gre
mating society. Many who were only
wounded, of course, succeeded in max
lag lneIr escape. lit was jolly SPORT"
as Miller described it. ave banged
away at sight, hit or miss. The cart
ridges only cost cent and quarter
apiece, and who cares for expense
when II thing of that kind is on hand"
A number or whales were seen and
"spoken,n rs the nautical phrase goes,
but none were taken. One of the
party succeeded in wOunding q whale
killer. but he also made his escape.
Ihis fish is somewhat remarkable in
its appearance and habits, and deserves
especial mention. 1t is about twenty
feet in length, with an enormous tin
on the back, serving for the instru-
ment of warfare. They attack the
whale in pairs, one beneath and one
a. we, and by dextrous use of this
al, AMIDST Always succeed i'll bagging
their game. They eat only the tongue
of the whale, being somewhat dainty
in their taste; but the seal which they
des,r roy in great numbers, is consumed
IN too, ana furnishes a hearty meal
with his tender, oily carcass.
AS may be supposed, uurin. the
cruise the little schooner was called
upon to weather many uncomfortable
squalls, with attel dali heavy seas and
Rough winds, and more than once she
was i'll imminent danger of leaving
her hulk to bleach upon some one vi
the desert shores. But the staunch
little craft outrode them all, and "safe
into the harbor sailIngo brought her
valuable cargo and sturdy crew. On
the 18th or 18th OF February the party
was off Santa Cruz Island during II
heavy storm, and the steamer Pacific
was obliged to put into the leeward Of
the island for shelter. The scene was
thus vi, idly described by our friend,
of the Isabella:
"She behaved beautiful, I tell you;
now down and now up, as the heavy
waves struck her, ana every time she
water from her nose like Il whale. 1t
was the prettiest sight ever saw"
| M ,lier thinks the Pacific splendid
craft and well handled by her crew.
AT the island OF Anna Cappa our party
picked up couple of shipwrecked
Cinnamon, who mad come over in a
small boat from San Buena Ventura
on q fishing trip, and, overtaken by
the storm, had been capsized and cast
upon I, barren rock some distance from
the shore. Their oars were gone and
their boat shattered so as to be utterly
worthless, and the unfortunate Celes-
| tialS were in most terrible Tx, to he
sure, when they were taken from the
rock.
"Glad? you just better believe
they We're! TWO of the happiest Chi
namen out of H"
We believe it was Hong Kong.
John, from the iullness of his heart,
wanted to express his thankfulness,
but the more he tried the less he sue
ceeded.
"You belly goody man! yes, yes!
You likee drinkee? Me glvee you
bimebyw John understands human
nature!
The party secured many interesting
specimens of shells and other curiosi-
ties of the sea during the trip. One
of the most curious is a fragment Of
flint or SILICA broken from cliff on
Anna Cappa Island, and resembling
in its formation on one side a bunch
of white grapes. Abalone shells with
rough moss-covered exterior, and some
curious varieties of she l-tish, species
of radiate, the name of which we were
unable to learn, were also brought
back by the party. These specimens
are now in possession Of DR.. Oliver, and
can be seen at his office on Spring
! street.
The Isabella starts on another seal
ing expedition in a few days, this time
going after bull seals;' and she will
be out until about the Fourth of July.
The same crew will be on board as
before, and they expect a jolly time OF
it, rough and full Of hardships, but
spiced with adventure, and endIngwith
L