Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-31
ANACAPA ISLAND.

A Queer Place on the Pacific Coast-1Eunt-
ing the Slippery SeaI-Th- Animals Do
m-stic Habits-A Haunt for Pirates i'm
the Olden Time.
From the Ventura (Cal.) Free Press.
A great deal of curl osity lis often
manifested by our people in regard to
the islands Immediately across the
channel from this town. Having Wis
tied Anacapa, the smallest and most
southeasterIy one, we give descrip-
ton of its general appearance, charac-
ter of soil, etc. About thirty miles from
the mainland, and seven or eight from
the island.of Santa Cruz, is the little pre-
cipitous and rocky island which We see
SO distinctly On a clear day. It is be-
tween six and seven miles in length,
and but cable length in width, the
greater portion being solid rock. On
the the highest mountain on the island
which is perhaps 800 900 feet high)
there is a rich sandy soil, which cup
ports luxurious growth of very nu
tritive grass. On this side, in ali but
one or two places, the towering cliffs
jut out into the ocean and the water is
very deep close in shore. There is one
place little sand of perhaps 100 feet
in length, where boats are generally
landed, and where the seal fishers make
their camp. This is we'll sheltered, and
is wlthal very cosy retreat, where one
might be lulled to sleep by the sweet
whisperings of the pillows and the
music of the winds and dream away
the tedious hours.
On the south side Of the island, from
shore to horizon, lies one vast bed of
seaweed, gently undulating with the
swell, and catching the golden tints of
the resplendent sun. On either hand
extend jagged cliffs, against which in
stormy weather dash the mighty waves
as they roll in from the bosom of the
Pacific, like planets crashing, and
throw their spray with laundering
sound high up where the sea gull makes
its nest and rears it's young. When the
storms of wind sweep over the rugged,
sea-worn cliffs, the myriad broad leaves
of the growing kelp lift themselves in
the air and with each succeeding gust
strikes the water with a sound as of
musketry.
There is no fresh water on this rocky
!
it practicable to keep it stocked with
sheep and goats, and discovered it pos
sible to rear them without other drink
than that afforded by the heavy dew
falling On the grass at night. AT first
though, it would seem impossible for
animals to live without more water than
could thus be obtained. Yet here the
dew falls so copiously as to abundant
ly supply their wants. The fsherm en-
bring over their supplies of wood and
water from the mainland, devote their
time to killing seal (which are very
plentiful), rendering up the blubber,
and reveling in the intense solitude. -
At the extreme west end of Anacapa
there is a small corral and sheep camp,
where vessel calls once Or twice a
year with party of sheep shearers,
and leaves them to take the fleece from
the backs of the fat sheep. This is
usually accomplished in four or five
days, when the vessel returns and takes
both men and wool to the mainland.
The fishing business around and on
the island is the most profitable. The
black seal are the most numerous,
though occasionally leopard seals are
killed and sometimes a sea lion. The
latter do not breed on the island, but
only pay passing visits. When killed
they yield large quantities Of oil, and
the Chinese give from rs cents to 81
each for the long hairs which form the
animals moustache. The leopard seal
seem to remain about the island
but q short time, the dams bringing
forth their single pup In the water, the
the youngsters padding off as though
used to swimming. The black seal, on
the contrary, bring forth their pups on
the rocks, and their young never enter
the water except upon compulsion un-
til three or four months old. The bulls
of the latter kind of seals make
regular trips to the island to visit
the COWS, which remain there all
the year round. The bulls, on ar
irving about the first of June, are very
fat-so much so that they carry ballast
in the shape Of smooth stones, to over
come that fotative powers of the GUAM
tity of blubber with which they are en-
numbered. These stones sometimes
weigh four pounds each, three or four
of which are sometimes carried in q
kind of false stomach provided for the
purpose. AS much as fifteen pounds
of rock have been taken from the
stomach of single fish. After remain
ing just two month, amid ineessant
combats, the bulls, poor in flesh, and
with all the ballast thrown overheard,
depart to recuperate, and return there
next year. The COWS remain; and also
the female calves, but the bull calves
leave about the first of April, doubt
less to be out of the way before the ar
rival of the fierce old bulls. The bulls
yield on an average about eight gallons
of oil, worth this year about SO cents
per gallon. In December an onslaught
is made upon half-grown pups, and
vast numbers of them are killed for
the oil, of which they yield about gal
lon each. Most of the seals are killed
on the rocks, but when shot in the
water the bullet must be almost instant
ly fatal, SO that the animals head drops;
otherwise, if the nostrils remain above,
the air is expelled and he sinks. There
are three men on the island now en-
| l.