St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-10-20

ne O0De04o - 4o00oo0o - - 8D0S 49,
ol11osaAa.
The east coast Of Florida q ono time
aot % very far distant Va the hunters
paradise. And even now. for the
smaller game. there ars few parts ol
the State whore moro fun can b on
joyed by the hunter or fisherman. The
manatee, or ''sea-cow," 70 ono Of the
few large animals left in this section.
and it, pursuit 10 exciting in the OK
treme. It u q very peculiar animal.
both in its appearance and habits. and
its mode Of capture Il interesting. The
manatee looks like Q huge porkeP
squeezed hat." or an elongated "pan-
cake" 1t is generally 8 to IL feet in
length, and from 4 to 6 feet broad. and
It has fat body. Its head 10 shaped
something like . cows, with q round
muzzle. The skin 10 dark and rough,
and hangs in folds similar to that Of .
hippopOtamus or rhinoceros; Il II
sparsely covered with hair. The ami
mails eyes are well-nigh covered up
by the folds Of flesh or skin that hang
loose around its head. Tho animals
weigh from nine hundred pounds up
ward. and. though most helpless and
ungainly looking creatures when on
land. yet in the water they are ex.
ceedingly spry. their nukes and dip
pers sending them through the water
with Incredible speed. They are very
acute Of ear, and detect sounds On the
water for . long distance, hence their
capture IL . matter Of no small skin
and dexterity. They live on grass
almost wholly, and there arc only .
few places on the coast whore they
have feeding grounds.
st. Lucie river. which opens into
Indian river from the Haipattseoks
creek some miles above this place. -
their favorite haunt here. The stream
IL short, wide, and with lttls current
The waters arc dark and the bed Of
the river II covered with . thick
growth Of vegetation, . ''sea-cow"
grass being the principal plant. Many
other rare plants arc also found along
its banks. none Of which grow else.
where.
Three dne specimens we're captured
last fall and two others . few months
ago. The last party used . very heavy
and strong purse net, strengthened
with extra ropes. They selected .
cove near tho mouth Of the river.
where tho water was about twelve feet
deep. Tho net, which was about 500
long and with very large meshss. vas
between stakes set at the
bottom and shaped 20 a. to have n
open place left At the lower side. - the
eat against the stream.
After tho trap was set the party retired
TO their camp. nearly . mile away. and
awaited results. The net
was visited every day. but beyond a
alligator or shark nothing was secured
At length. after eight or nine days Of
waiting. their patience was rewarded
BY finding. ono noon. two 6ne speci-
mems entangled IL the nets meshes.
Tho task to get them out was not an
easy one by any means. While the
were timid enough when not
yet when 1t bay they were
not to Be despiscd. Tho
net was gradually brought In toward
shore, the animals making furious
PUSHES and plunges as they felt the in
closing wings Of the net A Aatboat
vas then pushed up close TO tho net;
strong ropes were thrown around one
II the mantees. and 1t was % tightly
wrapped up and enveloped that it
sould not move. This was attended
With considerable danger, and ono Of |
he men received . severe wound in |
he thigh from the creatures tusk.
while another was knocked senseless |
~ q blow from its huge and powerful
all. Both animals were finally |
and then by means Of power
ul tackle lifted on to fats and placed |
n tanks. They were then taken to
shipped thence to Jackson
lille, and after being exhibited there
or several days. were forwarded to
Iew York. there to be sold to Q
nenag Inlet TIA. Letter |