Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-03-10
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THE TRAINED SEALS.
CAPTAIN WESTON TELLS ABOUT HIS
THREE PERFORMERS.

How He and q Famous German Fisherman
Captured bobby. Bibby and Tommy.
Some of Their TrIcks-They Live Upon
Salt Water Fish.
OF all the different animals that go to
make up the animal kingdom a fish is
perhaps the strangest that should be
chosen for training, yet the acts done by
the three seals under Captain Weston's
guidance show that even fish can do
wonderful things. Those now perform
ing every day are the Oldest seals in
captivity. Seals are extremely delicate,
and they rarely live away from their
native sea and rocks for more than a
year, and yet these seals, Bobby, Bibby
and Tommy, have been performing reg
ularly for six years. Their longevity is
undoubtedly due to the fact that they
receive great care.
The exact spot of the birthplace of
these seals is not known, but when they
were youngsters they were found on one
of the islands off Coxshaven in Germany.
The German government does all it can
to protect its fisheries, and as seals are
q constant menace to fish the govern
ment pays a reward of marks for the
capture of each seal. There is famous
seal fisherman in Germany named
Workman, and when Captain Weston,
who had been on many sealing and
whaling expeditions in the North sea,
determined that he would give up the
life of a sailor and become landlubber
it occurred to him that the training of
seals would be novel and profitable He
went to Workman, and together they
captured the three sleek little fellows.
There are many islands outside of Coxs-
haven, and one of the smallest was
chosen. In describing the capture Cap
tain Weston said:
We stretched the net ON one side of one
of the smaller islands and then went to
the others and shot off pistols and made
noise, driving many seals into the wa
ter and against the net. We had to
work very quickly, because the seals
dived down and became entangled in the
net, and seal will drown if kept five
minutes under water. When we finally
pulled them up, we found that we had
about 30 seals, but when they found
themselves altogether they became en-
ragged and fought among themselves,
biting, scratching and tearing, even
killing one another, until there were
only three left, and these three are the
same three have today.
One has only faint idea Of the
amount of patience which it requires to
teach fish, for such a seal really is.
1t looks easy to see one of my seals play
the banjo or harp, but 1t took me
three months of hard work every day
to teach them to do this even in an inn
perfect manner, and the only reason
that can give is that they have been
at it long enough to learn.
have never before known seal to
live in captivity over one year, and yet
have had mine many times that.
am often surprised at their intelligence.
Especially is this true of Bobby, the
clown. believe that that fish under
stands humor, because he does things at
times which actually make me laugh,
to say nothing about the audience. He
is the best seal ever had, the best /
ever will have, and think that he has
an affection for me, and that he knows
almost everything that say to him.
Yes, the care of seals is a great one.
keep them in tank, and above the
water is a shelf for them to lie on when
they feel so inclined. This water is
changed three times day, and 20
pounds of salt are put into the water at
each change, for q seal cannot live in
fresh water, you know. They arc as
plump and fat today as they were lying
on their native rocks in the North
sea, and they know great deal more
about the world than they otherwise
would have known. 1t may surprise
some people, but it is nevertheless
fact, that these three seals eat 500 pounds
Of fish week. They will only eat sea-
fish, such as herring or founder, and
attribute their long life to the fact that
am very careful with their food. The
fish are WASHED and cleaned and the
heads cut off just as carefully and just
as clearly as though going on hotel
table. The seal does not chew n fish.
but swallows it whole, and it would
surprise you to see how great mass Of
fish will disappear when three seals get
at it. All the accomplishments of these
seals are not shown. They have been
taught water tricks can throw 10
cent piece into tank of water, and.
small as the piece is and fiat as it lies
ON the bottom. at word Of command
any one of my seals will dive for it and
get it. This do not show in public,
because the tank is an unwieldy thing
to keep about.
Have they ever bitten me? Yes, sew
eral times, and the seals bite is a nasty
one. The last time was when placed
the tambourine in front Of Bibby.
Without warning he grabbed me by the
arm, and certainly thought he would
take big piece out of it before could
make him LET go, and was Obliged to
strike him very severely before could
get him 10 let loose. My seals TO me
are great pets, and ! think as much Of
them as | would OF child. for their
great, big, intelligent eyes look up into
mine with an expression which tells me
If they only knew how they would GER
tainly talk to me. New York Tribune.