The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-06-23
AWFUL AMPHlBIANS.
A Car load Of Sea Lions from the Pacific
Cnast-Nav York's Iatast Arriy,ls

A Car load Of Sea Lions from the Pacific
Coast-New YOrk's Latest Arrivals.
Hundreds of people gathered at the
Vanderbilt depot, in Hudson street,
yesterday morning to witness the re-
moval of car load of sea lions which
had arrived from the Pacific coast for
Messrs Coup Il Reicho's New York
Aquarium. The peculiar and unmel
odious cry of the amphibians could be
heard for blocks around. Each of the
sixteen sea lions has separate wooden
cage. The singularity of their situation
made them howl to the full extent of
their capacious throats. Outside of
their vocal gymnastics they lay perfect
ly still in their cages and looked lazily
back at their spectators. AT noon they
were the sensation of that section of the
city. Car No. 2,1S6, which transported
them, was for the time free museum,
as it afforded all who passed an oppor-
tunity of seeing what but few had seen
in their lifetime. An aggregation of
sixteen sea lions cannot be seen every
day. Indeed, there has been no such
amphibian arrival in New York before.
The expedition which captured these
monsters was commanded by Captain
James Mullet, under the direction of
the proprietors of the New York
Aquarium. On the 31st of March the
expedition was despatched. 1t pro-
ceeded to Lower California and the
Mexican coast. On board were fifteen
trained lariat throwers, all from Mexi-
co, where this method of capturing
monsters of the land and sea has become
a science. When the sea lions were
sighted at a distance by glass the
vessel was anchored. A small boat
was then filled with the lariat throwers,
who rowed in the direction of their
game. Days were consumedin waiting
for favorable opportunity for the cap
ture. The MeXicans slept upon the
rocks in the habitat of the sea mon
sters. AT daylight they went about
their work. 1t is then the amphibians
begin to show themselves. The method
of capture was as follows:- First the
lasso was thrown over the head of the
sea lion as it was basking on the rocks.
The hipper was seized by second
rope, and the monster became helpless
under third fling which held his tail
in confinement. While thus helpless a
cage was placeu over une llOll anu dlter
being released from the ropes the cage
and captive were pushed overheard and
towed to the vessel. Fifteen men were
required to capture each sea lion.
Lives have been lost in the attempt to
make these monsters of the deep cap
tives. In this expedition everything
was safe and successful. Several weeks
were consumed in gathering this col
lection. Captain Mullet is probably
the only man in the world who has
made speciality Of their capture.
When these natives of the Pacific coast
were captured they were transported to
San Francisco and from thence here.
Among them is female and cub, the
latter being the first specimen of the
kind ever seen in captivity. In their
transportation they were fed on fresh
fish, and water was poured over them
at frequent intervals. Two of the
creatures are for the Briton Aquarium,
in England, two for the Paris Acclim-
atization Society, two for Amsterdam,
Holland, and the remainder will remain
in New York, at the Aquarium, or be
sent to the Seaside Aquarium at Coney
Island.