Wichita eagle., 1890-03-11

Perched High Above the Billows the Oar
ing Hunter Watches with His Rifle and
Glasses-Unwritten Law That Is Care
fully Observed.
1t is not generally known that some of the
most expensive fur producing animals are
killed off the coast of the new state of Wash
ington, and it is remarkable that the extent
of territory where these animals are taken is
SO extremely limited, being only from Da-
mons point, at the northern entrance to
Gray's harbor, up the coast to Point Green
vile, 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
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 through 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.
There are now several hunters engaged in
killing sea otters at the place referred to, and
the modus operandi Of taking them was very
interesting to me.
THE .'CRows NEST"
The hunters build themselves derricks about
forty feet high by taking three slim poles or
pieces of timber, each about forty feet in
length, and boiling them securely together
at one end for the top, they spread them
about twenty five feet apart ct the bottom,
giving the appearance of huge tripod. These
a. set on the ocean beach, about midway be-
tween high and low tides, the foot of the poles
being imbedded in the sand from two to three
feet. The structure is then thoroughly braced,
and ladder built TO the top by mailing pieces
at convenient distances crosswise on the in
land
About eighteen inches below the top of the
tripod, cross timbers are secured to the legs,
and upon these cross tiInbers a floor from
four TO FIVE feet square is laid, and on the
oceanward and two adjoining sides walls are
built up from three and a half TO four feet in
height On the land side, door is construct
ed to allow the hunter easy ingress and egress
to and from his 'crow's nest" On the top Of
the tripod, which extends about eighteen
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 hies himself to bis crows nest,
armed with a good pair Of glasses, q Sharpe
rife and lunch, and for six long hours be
scans the line of the ocean just outside OF the
breakers, where he most expects his game 70
appear. When the tide first begins to food
his range is about coo yards, but as 1t runs
in the range h shortened to go or 800 yards
Even at these latter distances IL requires cioss
calculation TO know just asw 70 shoot to
overcome the rise aud fall Of the ocean swell
and tie effect Of the wind upon the bullets
II is said that not one out OF 100 shots OF the
best marksInen is effective When the tide
is full tie derrick stands in the midst Of the
breakers. and land lubber ike ulysslf feels
a little squeamish looking down from the
dizzy heights on the rolling waters below.
TIE shooting Is generally done on food
tide. 50 the animal, when killed, viii waSn
ashore, and even tnen it Is sometimes three CT
four days after one Is killed before it is
beached. Undoubtedly many others are
killed and never do come ashore.
MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION
Each hunter MARKS his bullets with mark
known 20 the other hunters, and when az
otter Is found On the beach the frss dafy of
tee finder IS 70 look for the bullet and aseeT-
tain 40 Is the righttul owner, for tins sizn
marks and brands are among s:ocSmea-
" zen an otter comes ashore wlIh 10 bullet in
him. as frequently occurs. the bullet having !
gore clean throCgn the body, aad 20 notice ]
haviuz been gITeu- II Is regarded a suck /
eaT, IN seockEnens parlance. ard belongs 10 /
eos finder.
Sometimes an otter, on receiving death 4
sao-. sinks; bE;t she hunter generally kno~s 4
wne1 ae aas III i4ss mars by Observing tas 4
water With his -.2sses, hs can discern, ever {
a: the greater dis-&Bcex which ;neF shoos. tne /
q f5e water froEl the bioo,l Of tie /
animal: sno z Es does nc. coas. ashore ca 1
'.4z- tide. no-lce : - once gwen 20 tne otEef /
aun.ezs. wco are then cn .As aJerE 20 tina 4
rin BGt ors1e snzt beach combsrs. IL sBs
srsSs of ssea1thy indians. gst avxy zia l
-.anv 81 ots~T killed ey TIE white hurisr. i
Save had ocezszoa MAY times 20 rszss asosE 4
the beach ~ dayAgAr dnFsEz tse huEslss
season. but si~4vs :cIud tie Ga trscks q /.
.ls- -axsza jEss AAsad Q: as, E-ia5e1 there
.lnee last klza t1as.
Tls Indi1as 1aus iae sea osss- Z csnoes !