Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-18
THE TEACHkBLE SEALS.
They Easily Learn and Are Trained With
out PuDIshmeut.
(st. Louis Globe-Democra


"There is no limit to the capabilities OF
seal" said Professor woodward. "They
not only learn 10 initiate. but they also
reason Unlike other animals. the seal
Is trained without punishment being in
licted. In fact. TO use a whip would be
10 frlghten the animal, which is the most
timid and nervous Of all brute creation.
1t will learn by imitation. and none has
ever lived long enough TO test It's capacity
for acquiring knowledge. There IS a
steady and constant improvement In
them until they die. a seal understands
that IL is TO be rewarded II Ii performs
what is expected of 1t. and that 1t Is
not to be rewarded If 1t fails which indi-
Gates reasoning faculty. il performing
seal has done its work and by any over
sight fails to get its fish IL will flap its
tail on the floor and cry TO attract the
attention OF its trainer; but If it has not
done the work no fish is expected, and
when it fails to get any no objection IL
made. In the training of seals another
exception TO usual training methods is
made 1t Is never we'll 10 begin too early.
The baby seals are weak and cannot
stand the strain. The human expression
In the eyes of seals has often been com
there should be a good deal OF the human
in the disposition of these animals. Some
of them are inclined 10 take "a very seri-
Gus view Of life while others appreciate
n Joke Some have a greater degree OF
Intelligence than others, and they all dis
play an affection which approaches the
human.
MY father has been a seal-trainer since
his boyhood, while | have had charge Of
them for about three yea >. They are III
teresting from the time OF their capture
until their death. In wild state they so
in droves and move with almost military
precision. stationing sentinels at each end
OF the line to give warning in case OF in
trusion Upon the sentinel sounding the
cry Of warning they all disappear into the
sea. They are captured alive by rlacing
n strong net. the ropes OF which extend
for half a mile, along the coast. This is
placed between n company Of seals which
are summing themselves on the sand and
the deep water Of the sea. The hunters
then go around the animals, aud the
frightened seals make for the water, be-
coming entangled ~ the net. They often
succeed In escaping, and ont Of POO seals
IL is seldom that more than ten are
taken
>"There are two distinct and very differ
ent kinds of seals useC for training pUr-
poses-those from the Baltic sea. or seals
proper, which are supplied with front feet.
and those from Beriug sea, which have no
front feet, and are really sea-lions. But
few performing seals have ever been seen
in this country. AS a rule, they are taken
too young and die. The average life of
seal, under the best OF care at the most
experienced hands. Is only three or four
IA
year or two in captivity. Their average
age in Wild state is about fifteen years.
They DO not understand the human voice
as well as a dog does, learning almost alto-
gether by imitation, but they comprehend
a few words, and when they do know what
you say they render prompt obedience.
They are generally very playful, and will
rompt with each other and with their
trainer. chasing each other around the
tank. rolling over, and otherwise disportsng
themselves. Occasionally they viii get on
a tear, break up furniture and pipes, and
have a genuine lark When they de they
hide a. the bottom Of their tank when the
trainer appears. showing that they realize
that they have been guilty OF an infrdction
OF the rules.
'.In "A wild state the old male seal VIII
be surrounded by his family. consiating OF
the females and baby seals. While In n
group by themselves are the young males,
not yet strong enough TO fight their way
TO terms Of equality with the old ones.
They have some affection for their
trainer, but r3t as much as a dog. ihey
like TO be petted. and are not all averse
to human companionship. But when one
OF their number dies their strong affec-
tomato qualities come out; they mourn
tba loss Of their coInrade as Numan be-
ings would, and refuse to perform Their