Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-02-07
A SEA LION HUNT.
aow THE NIoNARCHs OF THI
OCEAN'ARE' CAPTURED
An Interesting Chase After the HUI.
Amphibians-Catch Monsters
With = "Riatan Excitin.
and Also Profitable Sport.


case.
If the lions are wanted for their Oil
alone, or the skins, rifle ball in the ear
or near it, bring them TO the try-pot. II
hit anyw here else, ball has no more eff.
feet upon them than it would have on a
grizzly. But the hunter who desires
living sea lions is compelled to go about
his task with the utmost tcircumspection.
Various devices have been tried. Strong
nets have been made and set where the
lions would become entaugled in the
meshes and so. roll the nets about them
as to make it possible to take them.
They have been cut of from a return to
the water while on shore and gentlY
driven back to point from which they
could be transported to some suitable
place where they could be left until j.
was ascertained whether they wc'ili live
in confinement, but such driv.ag over
heats the bulky beasts. all the thresh-
ing about which they do so bruises them
Is to make them sick and kill them.
Louis ]. Ohuimus has caught man,
sea lions for various institutions, and his
years of experience with the animals at
Woodward's Garden and elsewhere have
made him an authority in respect to
them. Mr.. Ohnimus long ago discov-
cred that any abrasion of the skin of sea
lions, when removed from their natural
home, would certainly cause fatal sick
ness. His many experiments also estab-
lished the fact that young sea lions can
not be raised in captivity. The late r.
B. woodward Offered standing reward
of 5000 to any one who should raise a
sea lion, and very many persons at.
tempted the task, failure being newt
able. In one instance a sea lion pup
lived for six weeks after capture, bu
worried constantly until death relieved
It.
The ordinary price of living sea lions,
which is $3.50, indicates something OF
the difficulty in taking and keeping
them. The methods OF capture used By
Ohnimus are very simple and successful,
although not unattended by danger He
merely lassoes the beasts and uses ex
pedieuts to prevent their knocking them
selves about while confined.
When an order is received for one o.
more lions Ohnimus hunts up the half.
dozen long ropes OF an inch diameter
and so worn as to be soft, which he uses,
sees that the running nooses are in work.
ing order and he is then ready to proceel
TO the chase. By preference he goes
down the coast in a schooner, which
lands the hunters, to the number of five
or six, with their ropes and other things.
The schooner then stands off aud along
the shore, far enough away not tc
rrjghten the lions.
The men conceal themselves until
the animals have regaiued confidence and
have resumed their ordinary habits. Be.
fore long some of the beasts crawl to
places on the rocks and Others scuffle
along up the beach. If possible, the
hunters select one on the beach, and if
necessary, wait for hours until one of
good size gets far enough away from the
water to enable the men to cut off his
retreat from the sea. HIS enemies then
rush at him with loud yells and generally
succeed in SO confusing the huge bulk OF
the lion loses all sense and
toddies abouf.,helplessly. When point
has been reached within fifteen or twenty
feet of the lion, the lasso coil is deftlY
thrown, and as it settles down oyer the
head and neck Of the lion,' twitch OF
the rope throws the greater part Of the
loop TO the ground on one side of the
animal or the other as is desired. A
founder or two aud the flipper on the
side to which the loop has been twitched
is seen TO be within the loop. Then the
line is tigh.ened and the loop is seen to
have passed about the beast over the
houlder and under the fipper.
The rope end is handed to an assist.
ant while another lssso is thrown over
the head of the lion and by similar
process engages thesother f1ipper. The
ropes are pulled in opposite directions
and the lion founders about, roaring and
gnashiug in a vain effort to reach its tor
mentors. IN the water the beasts travel
at rate estimated at twenty miles an
hour, but on land an ordinarily active
man can avoid danger from the tusks OF
the euraged beasts. As soon as the lion
is securely roped about the shoulder:
and t1ippers third lasso at favorable
opportunity catches the prey about the
tail, sometimes by throwing the loop,
but more often by spreading it upon the
sand and waiting until the huge lion in
his struggles c cIances to firt his hind
hippers within the snare. \ fourth rope
is then taken and applied to the tail OF
the lion in manner similar to that last
when the four ropes are in
place and the running nooses adjusted.
The men holding the ropes attached
to the tail of the lion take positions il
front OF the animal, while those holding
the ropes over the shoulders are requirel
to 90 behind tae beast. All of the ropes
are then pulled tight aud the lion fnd:
itself inclosed in a trap from which ther,
is not only no escape, but in which it i!
unable to tumble about to an exten
likely to abrade its hide, tesr its flipper'
or do other harm.
After the roping is completed and the |
men have rested little and allowed |
their prey to quiet down somewhat the |
final act in the scene is done, which is to |
get the hon into a box in which he clu
BE transported and properly handled |
Mr.. Ohnimus takes with him seyerl
arge, strongly made boxes thickly lined |
with guuny bagging. After securing hi
ion as described box of the proper size
S selected and carried to the spot where !
he hampered lion is lying. The box i
,peH On one side, and while the rope men
pull .Leig lines tightly the box is inverted |
'ver the beast ant held in position by |
we or two of the men while the others
,ush p;anks underneath both box and |
ION.
When sufficient number of board;
ave been worked into position they are |
irmiy tied in position, and the box IS
hea turned over and the boards firmly !
iai.e down 70 serve a: Il cover. In the |
urniaC process the lion usually rolls
himself rs the box turns, but sometimes !
ne fit is too snug md the beast is un.
.3le to turn. After AL is snug the end!