The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1893-08-26
iCY GOODS,
ING GOODS,
RARE ANIMAL
One of the Most Interesting EDS.
by the Government.
nnI Orleans prices. Psf


stuffed and mounted specimens q
species which are nearing extinctih q a.
1t is lamentable fact that many Of
the sea and land animals indigenous to
America and surrounding waters are
fast disappearing. Notably among
the specimens sent to Chicago from the
Smithsonian institution is that of sea
otter, believed to be the only perfectly;
preserved example of this curio,ss;
species in existence. For many yaS
the government has been trying to sS
a perfect skin, and has been unabl s.
get one until the present one was
cured.
The difficulty is that the Alaskit itss.s
natives not only distort the hides lis
preparing them for market, but in obe-
dience to an old superstition, they bite
off the nose of each beast before fay
ing it. Thus it happens that no muse
um in the world has a good specimen.
The one shown by the National muse
um at the Centennial exposition pos
sessed neither nose nor feet, being
patched up with papier mache. Recent-
ly, however, the complete and uninjured
|
tanned through the Alaska Commercial
company. II will be stuffed and
mounted on a rock covered with sea-
weed, so as to look as lifelike as possiss
BILE. The fur of this animal is the moss
valuable known. A good pelt, with the
usual imperfections. Is worth two hun.
dred and fifty dollars, while an exces@s
tionally fine one will fetch one thoussyss:sssg sg
dollars. 1t has been suggested thssss thssss:sss A
president could preserve this rgsssssag. as9 s4A
creature by setting aside the islalEss;ssSSs5s
Saanach and Chernolours, in the
Pacific, as reservation where
might be protected, just as he res
the island of Afognak for the sa
by proclamation the other day. rs -rih
erwise the species cannot long survi9o
Hunters are shooting the few survivors
now with explosive bullets.
Another interesting animal to be
shown is the only specimen of the wal
rus that has ever been properly stuffed
| and mounted. Mr.. William Palmer
| went all the way to the Pribylov seal
islands to get it. The beast was shot
on Walrus island, which is six miles
from the island of St. Paul-an irregu-
lar rock few hundred yards long.
In like fashion will be shown the fin
est mounted specimen of the manatee
ever exhibited. This great marine ami
NAL is first known to have been re-
marked by Christopher Columbus. 1t
attains length of thirteen feet and a
weight of two thousand pounds.
Though now almost extinct, the species
was once along the gulf coast.
Yet another aquatic animal to be
shown will be specimen of the sea
elephant. 1t was formerly found in
large numbers along the coast of Cali
fornia. Among the interesting beasts
to be shown by the National museum
in its exhibit of the animals native to
this country is the Rocky mountain
antelope. This was the famous wool
ly horse" which figured in the political
songs of the Fremont campaign. 1t is
not particularly rare, nor near extinc-
ton, but it is one of the least known Of
American mammals, because the re-
gions which it inhabits are almost in
accessible. Nevertheless, it is not very
alert and is easily shot when it can be
got at. 1t will be represented by a
group, as will also the woodland carl
bou, which is the reindeer of New
foundland. The latter has been nearly
exterminated. Another group shows
the barrenground caribou of Alaska.
Both of these are regarded as varieties
of the same species as the domesticated
reindeer, which have been newly inn
ported by the government from Siberia
for the benefit of the Alaska natives.
For them it is expected to supply the
place OF the walrus, inasmuch as it il
the most useful animal in existence.
1t is intended to exhibit representa-
tives of the families of as many as pos.
!, sible of the strange and rare mammals
native to all America, as for example
certain scarce armadillos, cats, deer and
rat-like beasts from the southern con.
tinent. Unfortunately some are SO rare
as to not be ohtainable, only one or two
specimens being known in the case o1
certain species The mammals form
only part of the great series, which
will extend from man to the amoba.
A Valuable Relic.
III 1ho lhSb IuOnGn Oh ner lie MARY
Queen of Scots amused herself making
| bed quilt Upon background 8
red, green and black silk she worked
| various designs with silk thread O
bright colors. In several places she at
tempted embroidered portraits of notet
, characters of her time The resem
! blances, however, are striking. Thi
; quilt was tho gift of the queen to
maid of honor who remained with he
5 through loss of power and friends
The quilt has been carefully treasured
. by the descendants of the one to whom
. it was given. 1t was brought by then
. to this country, and one of them, Sen
, ator John Bidlake, of South Dakota
5 sent it to the fair
june Receipts.
: Nearly two and three-fourths million
people paid to pass through the gate
at the fair during the month of June
= OF this number over two and one-hal
million were adults, and the other