The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-02-15
ANACAPA ISLAND.
A Queer Place on the Pacific Coast
Hunting the Slippery seal---The
Animals Domestic Habits
4 Haunt for Pirates in
the Olden Time.
From the Ventura Cali Free Press.

From the Ventura Cali Free Press.
A great deal of curiosity is often man
Tested by our people in regard to the
islands Immediately across the channel
from this town. Having visited Ana
capa. the smallest and most southeast
erIv one, we give a description OF Its
general appearance, character OF SOIL,
etc. About thirty miles from the main
land. and seven or eight from the island
of Santa Cruz, is the little PERCEPTIONS
and rocky island which we see so dis
tinctly on a clear day. 1t is between
six and seven miles in length, and but a
cable length in width, the greater por-
ton being solid rock. On the highest
mountain on the island (Which is per-
haps 800 OF 900 feet high there Is rich
sandy soil, which supports luxurious
growth of very nutrltlve grass. On
this side, in all but one or two places,
the towering cliffs jut out into the ocean
and the water is very deep close III shore
There is one place n little sand OF per
laps 100 feet in length, where boats are
generally landed, and where the seal
fishers make their camp. This IS well
sheltered, and is withal very cosy re-
treat. 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 tlnts OF
the resplendent sun. On either hand
extend Jagged cliffs, against which in
stormy weather dash the mighty waves
as thew roll in from the bosom of the Pa
cifc, ike planets crashing, and throw
their spray with Numbering sound high
up where the sea gull makes It's nest and
rears its 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
anu With each succeeding gust strike the
water Will IL SctiIlti 30 w
There is no fresh water on this rocky
island, yet persevering men have found
it practicable to keep it stocked with
sheep and goats, and discovered 1T pos
sible 10 rear them without other drink
than that afforded by the heavy dew fall
ing on the grass at night. At first
l1o1,t - -ro,II coon, ioppcSibIa for
animals 10 live without more water than
could thus be obtained. Yet here the
dew falls so copiously as to abundantly
supply their wants. The fishermen
bring over their supplies OF wood and
water from the main land, devote their
time to killing seal (Which are very plen-
tiful,) rendering up the blubber, and
reYeIing lii The s'intense solitude. At
the extreme west e.'d Of Aancapa there
is a small corral and sheep camp, where
a vessel calls once or twice 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 re-
turns and takes both men and wool to
the main land.
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 IS cents to 81 each for tie long
hairs which form the animals moustache.
The leopard seal seems to remain about
the island but a short time, the dams
bringing forth their single pup in the
water, the youngster padding off as
though used to swimming. The black
seal, on the contrary, bring forth their
pups on the rocks, and their young never
eater the water except upon compassion
until three or four months old. The
bulls of the latter kind of seals make
regular trips to the island 10 visit the
cows, which remain there all the year
round. The bulls, on arriving about
the first of June, are very fat-so much
50 that they carry ballast in the shape
of smooth stone, to overcome that float
i've powers of the quantity of blubber
with which they are encountered. These
stones sometimes weigh four pounds
each, three or four of which are some
times carried III y kind of false stomach
provided for the purpose. As much as
fifteen pounds of rock have been taken
from the stomach of a single fish. After
remaining inst two months, amid inces-
SAINT 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, doubtless
to be out of the way before the arrival
of the fierce old bulls. The bulls yield
on an average about eight ga Ion of oil,
worth this year about 80 cents per gal
lon 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 gallon each. Most of
the seals are kille I on the rocks, but
when shot in the water the bullet must
lie almost instantly fatal, SO that the
ANIMALS head Drops cthecv ise, ii the
nostriis remain above. the air is expelled
an be sinks. There are three men on