River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-11-26

Ten or twelve years ago an act was
passed by the legislature making it
misdemeanor to kill sea lions anywhere
| within one mile radius of Seal Rock.
and ever since that time the sea lion
has been regarded as a privileged char
acter. Five years ago the fish industry
first began to assume important dimen-
sions; it was then that canneries began
to loom up and in the course of three
years following grew TO really gigantic
proportions. Firms in the city engaged
in furnishing supplies of al descrip-
tons to fishing outfits did immense
business, and the outlook became as
promising as that of an industry on the
coast. Soon, however, the sea lion
nuisance manifested itself, and at the
present time the fish industry in and
ar ound San Francisco Bay is nearly
paralyzed.
The sea lion is lover of luxury,
which doubtless means to that species
of animal life place to lounge on the
unny-side of some ragged cliff and
plenty to eat provided by some one else.
During the day the animals are always
seen in great numbers fi0undering
about the rocks near the Cliff House,
But toward night they disappear and
in immense bands flock into the bay
through the entrance at the Golden
Gate. The fishermen usually start out
about or o'clock in the afternoon to
set their nets, and do the greater part
of their work between that hour and
midnight. The sea lions seem to have
comprehended the processes of the fish
erman, and evidently lie in wait for
their approach. When net is laid
these curiou5ly intelligent creatures
first make their presence known by a
low grunt and blowing noise along the
surface of the water, and
in most incredibly short
space of time dozens and hundreds of
companions appear. They rush at the
nets, seize the fish, tear them loose
from the meshes, and devour them
with the rapidity of machines. Ii the
band happens to be few in numbers.
not equal to the consumption of all the
fish in the nets which they attack, they
will tear the fish out and play with
them, throwing them, sometimes, many
feet in the air, and otherwise de-
stroying the game of the industrious
fisherman, so that it is not an uncOm
mon occurrence for the hungry tOilcrs
of the bay to lift $50 fathoms of net
without securing single fish. The
lions can be seen almost at any time
chasing up and down before the nets
in great numbers, tearing the n eshes,
breaking the cords, and doing vast
deal of damage aside from destroying
all the fish, and are so fearless in this
rlotous work that they will approach
within a few feet of the fisherman's
boat.
Trade in the merchandise of fishing
outfits has been reduced to considerable
less than one-third of what it was two
years ago, and the Italians. Portuguese,
and others engaged in supplying the
local fish markets, instead of making
it paying enterprise, are reduced in
many instances to actual want. A
man well informed on the fishing indus
try stated that the various canneries
here and elsewhere are not doing a
business of 800 now where two years
ago $500 would not cover it.
The ravages of the sea lions are not
confined to any one branch of destruc-
zion, but to all kinds of fishing done
with nets, and they display a remark
able intelligence in hunting up the
haunts of the fishermen and being on
hand when the nets are set. Along
the wharves and sheds monopolized
by the fishermen may be seen great
piles of unused nets and equipments,
and the principal demand at the hous-
es dealing in supplies is for occasional
small quantities of Irvine or rope for
repairing.