Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-06-24
sEA.orTER AunrlMe
Pae' fle Coast InJn.trx
RMl IlfIIn IL. L. .-N"t Mhlc

"e coast Industry Abont xv,a.t
N"t Lutte Has Been Written.
~ y not generally known that so,,,a
the most valuable fur-yroducjng AMI.
hais are killed off the coast of the nn,v
's@'u 81 Washington, and it is remark
- 'Dio eliat the extent Of territory whore
'nese animals are taken is so extremely
united, bo..lg only from Danon's Point
~ ehe northern entrance to Grav's Har-
oor, up tho coast TO Point Greenvilla i.
1rSeahce OF about twenty-four miles.
Inc animal referred TO is the sen-ottar
ene iur OF which is manufactured int
the robes of the potentates and nr;ncos
Of the Old World.
Ane tur OF the sea otter REQUIRES no
piucKlng OF hair or coloring; in fact. the
uios1 valuable skins are those which ara
speckied throughout with silyer-tinnes
ualr' "hlch is known as the silver-tinned
.ul, inc addition of this hair adding Ok
10 oo per cent. to the price of the skin
The hunters build for themsalvss dan.
TICKS about 40 feet high by taking three
sim poles, or pieces of timber, each
ABOUT 40 feet in length, and boiling
Uhetn securely together at one end for
the top, then spread them about o. faat
apart at the bottom, giving the appear
once OF huge tripod. These are set n,
ehe ocean beach, about midway between
nigh and low tides, the foot of the nolea
Delng embedded in the sand from two to
ehree feet. The structure is then thor
oughly braced and ladder built to the
eop oy mailing pieces at convenient dis
tances, crosswise, on the inside. About
10 inches below the top of the tripod
cross timbers are secured to the legs
and upon these cross timbers a foor
from to 5 feet square is laid. and IN
the oceanward and two adjoining sides
walls are built up from 81 to feet in
height, On the land side door is con-
structed to allow the hunter easy in
gress to and from his ''crows nest" On
the top of the tripod, which extends
about IL inches above the floor. a seat
Is constructed, and around the inside
of the wall a row of shelving ia
placed. AT low tide, when the wind
Is propitious. the hunter HES himself to
bis crows nest, armed with good pair
OF glasses, Sharp's rife, lunch and a
little something to keep himself warm.
and Tor six hours he scans the line of
the ocean just outside the breakers.
where he must expect his game to an
pear. When the tide begins to flood, his
range is about 900 yards, but as it runs
in the range is shortened to 200 or 300
yards. Even at these latter distances
1t requires close calculation to know lust
how to shoot to overcome the rise and
fall of the ocean swell and the effect of
the wind upon the bullets. 1t is said
that not one out of 100 shots of the best
is effective. When the tide is
full the derrick stands in the midst OF the
breakers, and a landlubber feels a little |
soueamish, looking down from the dizzy
heights on the rolling waters below. |
The shooting is generally done on a food |
tide, so the animal, when killed will /.
wash ashore, and even then it is some
times three or four days after one is
killed before it is beached. Undoubt-
eddy many others are killed and never
DO come ashore. Each hunter marks his |
bullets with marks known to other hunt .
srs, and when an otter is found on the I
beach, the first duty of the finder is to .
look for the bullet and ascertain who .
Is the right owner, for the sign |
IS respected among the hunters as sa-
,redly as marks and brands are among
'tockmen. When an otter comes ashore .
With no bullet in him, as frequently .
occurs, the bullet having gone clean
through the body, aud no notice having
'een given, it belongs to the finder
An average skin is about feet long .
~ IL inches wide (double), or, When .
ut "a inches wide, and in the hunters /
land is valued at from $50 to S120; but |
hese prices leave a handsome margin /
o the fur men who handle them. In /
russia an overcoat made from these .
anne otter skins brings from 81, 900 to .
9, 1000, while in China even more is .
ometimes paid. The season for killing .
ca otter extends from May to October, /
nd so scarce is the game becoming that .
our a season is considered doing well /
y any hunter. In fact, some pass the /
eason without taking any. The hunters |
ave a rule among themselves, which is |
trictly observed, that only one derrick /
an be allowed within range, i. O.,
bout half mile, thus giving the whole |
each regularity of appearance not
lsewhere ervable.-Portland Ore
oman.