The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-20
SEA-OTIER HURTING.
4 Pacific Coast Industry About Which
But Little KaS Been Written.

SEA-OTTER HURTING.
Pacific Coast Industry About Which
But Little KaS Been Written.
1t is not generally known that some
Of the most valuable fur-producing ami
mails are killed of the coast Of the new
State of Washington. and it is remark
able that the extent of territory where
these animals are taken is SO extremely
limited, being only from Damon's Point,
at the northern entrance to Grays Har-
Dor, up the coast to Point Greenville,
distance of about twenty-four miles.
The animal referred to is the sea-otter,
the fur of which is manufactured into
the robes of the potentates and princes
of the Old World.
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 silver-tipped
hair, which is known as the silver-tipped
fur, the addition of this hair adding 25
to SO per cent. to the price of the skin.
The hunters build for themselves der
ricks about 40 feet high by taking three
slim poles, or pieces of timber, each
about 40 feet in length, and boiling
them securely together at one end for
the top, then spread them about 25 feet
apart at the bottom, giving the appear
once of a huge tripod. These are set on
the ocean beach, about midway between
high and low tides, the foot of the poles
being embedded in the sand from two to
three feet. The structure is then thor
oughly braced and ladder built to the
top by mailing pieces at convenient dis
tances, osswise, on the inside. About
Is inches below the top of the tripod
cross timbers are secured to the legs,
and upon these cross timbers a floor
from 4 to 5 feet square is laid, and on
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 ''crow's nest" On
the top of the tripod, which extends
about IS inches above the floor, seat
is constructed, and around the inside
of the wall a row of shelving is
placed. At low tide, when the wind
Is propitious. the hunter HES himself to
his crows nest, armed with good pair
of glasses, a Sharp's rife, a lunch and
little something to keep himself warm,
and fer six hours he scans the line of
the ocean just outside the breakers,
whore he must expect his game to APP
pear. When the tide begins to flood, his
range is about 600 yards, but as it runs
in the range is shortened to 200 or 800
uordc Euor, OF +bnco lott
it requires close calculation to 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 out of 100 shots of the best
marksmen is effective. When the tide is
full the derrick stands in the midst OF the
breakers, and landlubber feels little
squeamish, looking down from the dizzy
heights on the rolling waters below
The shooting is generally done on a flood
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 heached. Undoubt-
eddy many others are killed and never
do come ashore. Each hunter marks his
bullets with marks known to other hunt
ers, 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 right owner, for the sign
is respected among the hunters as sa-
credly as 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, it belongs to the finder.
An average skin is about feet long
by 10 inches wide (double), or, when
cut, "a inches wide, and in the hunters
hand is valued at from 800 to $12O; but
these prices leave handsome margin
to the fur men who handle them. In
Russia an overcoat made from these
same otter skins brings from 81 900 to
$4,000, while in China even more is
sometimes paid. The season for killing
sea otter extends from May to October,
and so scarce is the game becoming that
four season is considered doing we'll
by any hunter In fact, some pass the
season without taking any. The hunters
have rule among themselves, which is
strictly observed, that only one derrick
can be allowed within range, i. g,
about half mile, thus giving the whole
beach regularity of appearance not
elsewhere bservable.-Portland Ore
gonian.