The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-05-31
HUNTING THE SEA OTTER.


II Il not generally Known that some
Of the most expensive fur-producing
animals are killed of tho coast OF the
new State Of Washington. and II Is re-
markable that the extent of territory
where these animals are taken Is so cx-
trcmeIy limited. being on from Da-
mons Point. at the northern entrance.
10 Gray's harbor up the coast. 10 Point
Greenvillc, distance Of about twenty
four miles. The animal referred TO Is
the sea otter. the fur of which Is man
ufacturcd into the robes of The poten-
tates and Princes OF the Old World.
Unlike that Of the seal. the fur OF the
sea otter requires no plucking OF hair
or coloring; in fact. the most valuable
skins are those which are speckled
throughout with a silyer-tipped hair.
which is known as the silver-tipped
fur. the addition of this hair adding
20 10 80 per cent to the price OF the
skin.
There arc now several hunters en-
gagged in killing sea offers at the place
referred 10. says writer in the Port
land Oregonian. and the modus-oper-
andi of taking them was very interest
ing to me.
The hunters build for themselves
derricks about forty feet high by TAX
ing three slim poles or pieces OF TIM
Der. each about forty feet in length,
and. boiling them securely together ut
one end for the top. they then spread
them about twenty-five feet apart ut
the bottom, giving the appearance of a
huge tripod. These are set on the
ocean beach, about midday between
high and low tides. the foot OF the
poles being embedded in the sand from
two TO three feet. The structure Is
then thoroughly braced. and a ladder
built TO the top by mailing pieces mt
convenient distances crosswisc on the
inside.
About eighteen inches below the top
of the tripod cross timbers are secured
TO the legs. and upon these cross tim
bers floor from four TO five feet
square is laid; and on the oceanward
and two adjoining sides walls are built
up from three and half 10 four feet
in height. On the land side door Is
constructed TO allow the hunter easy
ingress and cgrcss TO and from his
crows nest" On the top OF the tri-
pod. which extends about eighteen
inches above the floor. seat Is con-
structcd and around the inside OF the
wall row OF shelving is placed.
At low tide. when the wind Is propi-
tious. the hunter hies himself TO his
crows nest. armed with n good pair OF
glasses Sharp's rifle. a lunch. and n
little something to keep himself warm,
and for six long hours he scans the line
of the ocean just outside the breakers,
where he most expects his game TO APP
pear. When the tide first begins to
flood his range is about GOO yards, but
as IL runs In the range is shorted 10
200 or 800 va ds Even at these latter
distances il requires close calculation
10 know just 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 of the 100 shots
OF the best marksmen Is effective.
The shoot Is generally done on a
flood tide. so the animal, when killed.
will wash ashore. and even then 1t Is
sometimes three or four days after one
is killed before it is beachcd. Undoubt-
eddy many others are killed and never
do come ashore.
Each hunter marks his bullets with a
mark known 10 the other hunters, and
when an otter is found on the beach
the first duty of the finder Is TO look
for the bullet and ascertain who Is the
rightful owner for this Is respected
among the hunters rs sacrcdly rs marks
and brands are among stockmen.
When an otter comes ashore with no
bullet in him. as frequently occurs, the
bullet having gone clean through the
body, and no notice having been given.
IL is regarded as "A "slick-car" in stock.
mems parlauces. and belongs TO the
finder.
Sometimes an otter, on receiving q
death-shot. sinks; but the hunter gen
orally knows when he has hit his mark,
BY observing tho water with his glasses
he can discern. even nj the greater
distances which they shoot. the color.
ing Of the water from the blood of tho
animal; and IL he does not come ashor,
on that tide. notice Is Mt once given e
the other hunters, who are then on tho
alert 10 find him. But | opine thai
beach combers. in the shape OF stealth,
Indians, get away with many an otter
killed by the white hunters. have
had occasion many times TO pas
along the beach mt daylight during
the hunting season. but ! AWAY
found the HAT tracks of the siwash jus
ahead OF me- printed there since las
high tide.
The Indians hunt the sea otter II
canoes, going out aud coming II
through the surf. sometimes they go iif
teen or twenty miles 10 sea and sta.
out several days. But when they hun
along within "a mile or two OF tn