The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1890-06-28
DOMESTIC SEAL RAISING.
an opinion that They Would rhrtv. In IN.
Great Lakes.

The time is not far distant " ,.h
'onn farrent, to reporter of the To-
ledo Blade. when a new indpstrv x,;n
be inaugurated in this country and
that IS the raising of seals, A sal i.
not alone valuable as fur-produc;ng
animal. but it will yield from eight To
twelve gallons of oil. The seal has
great confidence in man. II NAV he
readily tanned. and is a very docile an.
lmal. 1t exhibits much affection for It's
keeper, and is more intelligent than
the dog.
You look as though you doubted the
Practicability of such an enterpris.
he remarked to the reporter. well
You will remember a lew wears AGO
some men in California determined 10
60 into the ostrich business. People
all over the United States thought thew
were missionaries, but nevertheless
they expended good deal of money
IN sending to Africa for ostriches and
bringing them to California. Several
OF them died while being transported
but there was a sufficient number of
them left to give the industry a fair
trial. Even after the birds began to
lay eggs people in California said the
projectors Of the enterprise had thrown
their money away. But the incubation
went on satisfactorily. and the Young
ostriches came out in healthy condi,
ton. aud it was not long until all adj
mitted that 1t was q success. More os-
triches were brought from Africa. and
the industry hourished to such a degree
that the authorities 10 Africa issued an
order preventing the taking of any more
ostriches out OF the country. There are
plenty Of these birds in California now.
as large aud tine as the best specimens
found in Africa
The seal industry promises as good
results as ostrich farming. They may
be successfully raised in any OF the
Western lakes They would do we'll
in Lake Erie The small Islands aud
rocky promiuences in the lake would
be just the places for them to come
out and baJk 10 the sun. They are very
fond of getting out on rock and warm
ing themselves in the sun.
The difficulty ir the way of secur-
ing the full benefit of the Increase of
seals after they lad been placed in
lake would be that as they were a mig
ratory animal many of them would
make their way TO Canadian waters,
and this fact would make it unprofita-
bic for those who would 60 into the en-
terprise.
But there are many good-sized lakes
in Michigan which would be very suit
able for the introduction Of seals and
their rapid increase. Rocky promi-
nences might be made about the center
Of any Of these lakes rs basking places
and the industry would flourish from
the start They would soon learn TO 90
regularly to given place for their food.
II would be an immensely profitable
enterprise.
Some people have an ide, that
seal will not thrive except in very
cold climate. This is n mistake. They
will thrive in any fresh lake. In the
Pacific Ocean. of the coast OF Cali
fornis, there IS rocky prominence and
there are many seals there. They are
protected by law. IL must be remem-
bered that it is warm there.
During the winter months cheap
house for protection could be built
on the edge Of the lake, to which the
seals could come for air. as they must
have this Then houses would be ne
cessary when the lake was frozen
over. A seal can stay under water
from fifteen to twenty minutes, when
it must come to the surface for air.
Please remember what | tell you.
that within the next few years the seal
industry will be inaugurAted in Michi-
saa. and il will come to stay and make
big money for the men who invest in
il. and you need not live many years
to see Toledo ladies wearing sealskin
sscques from seals raised in Michigan
lakes"