The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-08-01
HUNTING. THE SEA cow.
Exciting sport ON the Coast OF
Florida.


The east coast uf Florida, at one time
not 20 very far distant, was the hunt
efis paradise. And even now. for the
smaller game, there are fen parts o.
the state where more fun can be had
hy the hunter or fisherman. The man
atee. or "sea-cow. i one Of the les
/ large animals left in this section.
ana lis pursuit ~ exciting in the
extreme. II l. peculiar ami
nial, both ia its appearance ana
habits and It's mode VI capture is ia
| teresting. The uiangtce looks hse q
huge porker "squeezcd Hat, or an
elongated pancake" It's generally
eight 20 ten ieet in length and from
| four 10 six feet broad. and x has fiat
body. Its head il shaped something
| like q COW ; with q small ntuzz'e. The
| skin T. dark and rough, and hangs IN
| folds similar - that OF the hipppPota-
mHa or rhinucerouS, II Is Spafceiy
| covered with hair. The animal s eyes
| are well nigh covered up bg the folds
OF flesh or skin that hang loose around
is head The animal weigh from
g9a rounds upward ard though most
helpless aud uugaiilly looking crea-
Itares when on loai. &c; in the water
they are exceedingly sprv their tiukes
and clippers sending them through the
water with incredible speed. They are
very acute OF ear, and detect sounds
ON the water for a long distance hence
their capture L. matter OF up small
skill and dextcrity They live on
grass almost wholly, and there are
only a few places on the coast where
they have feeding grounds.
| st I.ueie river. which cssns into Ia
dian river front tho HAlpattaeok a
creek. one mile above juPites inlet,
! IS the ssvarstc haunt Tho stream h
short. Wide, and with little current.
The waters are dark and The bed o;
the river Il covered with thick growth
lof vegetation, a "sea-eeWH grass being
the principal plant. Many other Fare
Infants are also found along it, banks.
/ none OF which grow elsewhere
Three gine spsclmens we're captured
Hast fan ana two others two months
arc. The last party used n very heavy
and 4trouE purse net, strengthens
vita, extra rope They selected coyt
near the mouth 81 the river, where ths
water was about T. feet deep. The
net which was % feet long, aiid
Iwtth very LARGE aeshes. VSs eN
ttandsd between stakes set 81 thS
thottam. and shaped SO as Il
ihase an open place let al the iowel
| side as The manatges eat against t1'
stream. After the trap WIS set tn
lpartv retired 50 their camp. ueaTty
mile away, aud patiently awaited IL
+ suits. The net vas visited every cav
. ihpt bcvonA an alligator az shark n9tis
! Ing was secured At length. after elgh
or nine DAYS II waiting, their pauenc'
/. Was rewarded by finding one aoon t@'
: | FIRE srsscineas rntaugled In the net
weshe.. The task 81 gsi them ca
Twas not an easy one nv any means
| While the aaimsls we're ifnlid enough
when not muissted, yes when - Ia
they were antagonists rot % re DC
spfsed The nci vas gradually hroaEh
tiS towards The shere She animals max
lne furious vushcs ana piurres as the'
, ieit the inNlossne wing Il the next
A Hat brat was then pushed upc.ose Z
E the net. strssug ropes were THROW
, around one ot the ussnafes and i vas s.
! Tightly wrapped Hp ani eoYeiei'r
+ that Il caall net move I aiS was ~
s tended wifh considerable danger, an
/ me az thr men received seven
: wound In The thigh from thg erratRFc'
, ita-k while another YVES ktsocse'
{ / .ensslcss by q h,ow from is huge sn'
powerial tai
b Both animals Uera hna'iy secure,
( a,,a tlten hy means Of poweEisl taeAi
iNltna ga 60 the fats ana iiaeea 7
ttanks