New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11
TIE TR.lINING or SEALS.
CAPTAIN WESTON TALKS ABOUT HIS PERFORM
ERS-TIiEIR INTELLIGENCE

CAPTAIN WESTON TALKS ABOUT HIS PERFORM
ERS-TIiEIR INTELLIGENCE.
CAPTAIN Weston the seal-traner at Hagenbecks =.
has received another seal from Hamburg. and mas
begun training II OF all the different animals that
go . make up the animal kingdom a fish is per
haps the strangest that should be chosen for tram
inr yet the acts done by the three seals under Cap
tain Weston's guidance show that even hsh can
w wonderful things Those performing every
day are the oldest seals In captivity. Seas are eX-
tremely delicate. and they rarely live away from
their native sea and rocks for more than year,
and yet these seals Bobby. Bibby and Tommy
have been performing regularly for six years.
Their longevity is undoubtedly due to the fact that
they receive great
Tire exact spot OF the birthplace OF these seas
Is no; known but when they were youngsters they
were found on enc OF the Islands Off Coxshaven IN
Germany. The German Government does all II can
To protect its fisheries. and as seals are the con-
slant menace TO ish the Government pays reward
II five marks for the capture OF each seal Ihere
IS a famous seal fisherman In Germany named
Worthman and when Captain weston. VINO han
been many sealing and whaling expeditions IN
the North Sea. determined that he would give up
the ne OF Il sailor and become landlubber II
occurred TO him that the training Of seals would be
novel and profitable. He went 10 Workman, and to-
geth,r they captured the three sleek little fellows
now performing AT Hagenbeck's. There are many
l. anls outs side OF Coxshayen. and or the small
est was chosen In describing the capture Captain
Weston said
we stretched the net one side OF one or the
smaller islands and then went to the Others and
shot OF pistols and made a noise. driving many
seals into the water and against the net. We had
10 work very quickly because the seals dove down
and became entangled in the net. and seal VIII
drown II kept five minutes under water. When we
finally pulled them up we found that we fa' ABOUT
twenty seals. but when they found themselves al
tog ether they became enraged and fought among
themselves biting scratching and tearing. even
killing one another until there wer" only three lett,
and these three are the same three that have
to-day.
zone las only a faint idea OF the amount or pa
tlencc which II requires teach fish. for such
a seal really is II looks easy to see one ct my
seals play the banjo or harp. but 1t took me
three months OF hard work every day 20 teach
them to do this even in an imperfect manner and
the only reason that can glve l. mat they nave
been AT il Ions enough q learn
Il have ne, or before known seal 10 1--we In cap
tivty over one year. and yet | have had mine
many times thai; am often surprised at their IN
t"lligtnce. Especially is this true "f '9bpy ne
because he does things at times which actually
make me laugh. to say nothing about the audience,
II. is the best seal | had. the best ever Will
nave and / think that h. has al affection for me
and that he knows Amos: e;"rythne say - nm
yes. the Of seals IL great one. l Keep
them at Iagenbeck's I'm tank. and above the water
Is A shelf for ineii 10 lie when they feel SO IN
clinol. This water IL changed three times day,
and twenty pounds OF salt are put into IN" water
at each change for "A seal cannot live In fresh wa
know. They are ~ pump ana fit To-Day
AZ they were lying In their native rocks In the
North Sea and they know a great deal more about
the world than they otherwise would hav" known
II may surprise some people. bur II IL nevertheless
thes' three seals cat lW y, unis OF fsll a
week. They will only eat seash such rs herring or
founder and | attrbut. their long lie t. the fact
that am very careful with their f,Cd. The fish ar"
washed and c.eancl and the heads cut of Just az
carefully and lust ceany as though going on a
hotel table. TIE seal does not chew fish, but
swallows whole and II would surprise you 10
see how a great mass OF fish Will disappear when
three seals got at It. All the accomplishments Of
these seals not shown at Hagenbecks. or In
fact anywhere They have been taught water
tricks I can throw "a ten-cent piece into tank
OF water and. small the piece Is and fiat as 1t
Of nv seals will dive for II and get H. This do
not show In public. because the tank Is an unwieldy
thing 10 keep about.
Have they ever bitten me? Yes: several times.
and the seals bite is nasty one. The last time
was when placed the tambourin" In front Of Bbb1.
Without warnng h. grabbed me by the arm. and |
certainly thought he would take big piece out Of
Il before could make him LET go. and was Obliged
To strike him very severely before could get him
TO let loose. Ny seals to me are great pets and |
think Just much OF them M would or child,
for their great. big. Intelligent eyes look up into
mine with expression which tells me II they
only knew how they would certainly talk to me-