The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-10-26
Capturing sea-LiOns in Alaska.

a singular method is annually emploved
by the natives of st. Paul's Island. AlasEa
Tor the capture of the sea.lion Her. =
an island which, instead of presenting an
almost unbroken line of bold. abrunt cliEs
TO the sea, like its fellows in the North
Pacific, offers to the landing seals Low
though gradually rising ground. Taking
advantage of this topography, the natives
OF 81. Paufs Island secure every season
hundreds Of sea-lions, with but titba of
the labor and exposure by which their
capture Is attended at other places. Eley-
en- miles northeast from the village on
81 Pauls Island is point upon which a
large number Of sea-lions annually rep,ir
Tor the purpose of breeding, ETC.. but rs
TINS animal Is timid, and sure to take 10
water when brought into the presence of
man, Its capture requires much discretion
ana Doidness on the part of its cautors.
VINO are chosen every season from the
village people, with especial reference 10
their physical qualification for the work
The ''sea-richie," as the natives name
them, cannot be approached successfully
Dy daylight; 50 the huatcrs, ten or twelve
In number, rendezvous in hut near bv
until favorable night comes on, when the
moon Is partially obscurad by dritino
clouds and the wind blows in from the
rookery. Then they step down to the
beach, at low water, and proceed to Green
nat on all iours over the surf.beaten sand
aud powders up to the doing herd and
between them and the water: in this wav
small body Of men crawling along il
Indian tile may pass unnoticed by the sea-
lion sentries which doubtless in the uncer.
tain light confound the forms of their
human enemies with those of seals. Whom
the creeping natives have all reached the
strip OF beach which is left bare bv the
eob tide between the water and the nm
suspecting animals, at given signal, the
hunters leap ut once to their feet. shont
yell, and brandish their arms while tba
astonished and terrified lions roar and
founder in all directions. If, at the mo-
ment OF surprise, the brutes are sleenino
with their heads pointed toward the
water, they charge straight on in that way.
directly over the men; but if their heads
have beea resting pointed laudward, they
follow that course just as desperately, and
nothing will turn them, at first, either one
way OrNhe other. Those who charge for
the water are lost, of course, but the m.
tiyes promptly follow up the land leaders
with rare combination of horrible noises
and Economical gesticuIations until the
trst frenzied squirt and exertions of the
terrified animals completely exhaust them,
and then, painting, gasping, prone upon
the earth, they are extended at the mercy
OF their cunning captors, who gently urge
them along up to the hut in which they
have been keeping watch during several
days past, for the night in which to make
this effort. Here the natives have what
they call their pen or cage, in which the
lion-like seals, as they are captured from
night to night, are collected and retained
until sufficient numbers or q drove of three
or four hundred has been secured. This
cage is nothing more than succession of
small poles stuck at wide intervals over
circle, in the ground; these poles are deck
ed with huttering strips of white cotton
cloth, and light ropes are loosely stretched
from one to the other. Within this fiimsy
circle the sea-lions are securely imprisoned,
and though necessarily watched By two or
three men, they scarcely make an effort
to escape, but their roaring is almost deaf
ening, while they constantly writhe and
twist over and against one another like
handful of angle-worms in saucer
ScribRer for October.