The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-09-24
HABITS OF SEA LIONS.
some Facts Concerning These Strange
Deep Sea Creatures.

SoAA0 concerning TkeSe Strange
Deep Sea Creatures.
Captain Mullett, says the Cincin-
natl Commercial Tribune, gave re-
porter some valuable information
concerning the capture and the hab-
its of sea lions. 'They are the most
interesting of animals" said he,
land believe they can be taught to
do ostanything. I have watched
their movements for Is years and
have naturally learned something
about them. There is one time in
the year to go after them, and that
is during the breeding season, which
begins about the 1st of June and
lasts for about three weeks. When
that period ends, the males, under
the leadership of a chief, go away
from the females, and we have new.
er found where they go.
They come again the next year,
and it is curious to see how they ar
range their harems, for the sea lion
is polygamous. The old bull who is
leader crawls up to @ rookery which
may contain 300 females. He appears
to count them, for he tolls off six or
eight of the males which are in his
flock, and they take possession.
There is much confusion until each
male gets his share of the females,
but after that all is serene, provided
there is no flirting. If there is, there
is sure to be terrific fight. Ordi-
narily there is but little trouble.
1T is during this lovemaking Pc
Rod that I catch my sea lions. The
males stay out of the water all the
time and do not eat, and the females
are not SO wary as at other times.
We use small steamer, and, sight,
ing a rookery, try to get near it
without discovery, which is a hard
thing to do. The animals have SEN
tinel who has keen eyes and gives
notice of the approach of danger.
But we get out of sight in small
boats and land.
"Then we cautiously work toward
the herd, hiding behind rocks until
we get between them and the water
at low tide. Each man carries q
lasso, and I am, perhaps, the only
man who can make lasso stick for
q short time on. sea lions neck.
Their heads are smaller than their
necks, and it is very hard to keep
the rope there, but I give it GER
tain twist that holds it until the
animal throws up his tail, when one
of my assistants deity 'lassoes it,
Then we have him. My rope slips
off, but by that time we have q rope
on each ripper. The men with the
cage come. We pull the ropes taut
and throw the cage over him. BY a
trick we turn it over and nail on
the top. When the tide comes in,
the cage, or rather wooden box
made of inch boards placed three
inches apart, is floated to the vessel
and hoisted on board
"Of course the sea lion does not
submit tamely to capture, and he
do not hesitate to fight and to take
the offensive. Myself and men have
had some very narrow escapes, and
it isno unusual thing to get bitten.
They are extremely muscular ami
mails, and, though they look clumsy
and awkward, can handle themselves
surprisingly we'll even on land. In
the water they are quicker than a
fash.
There are some peculiar things
about the sea lion and his way of
living that few people know about.
The females carry their young 365
days, never more, never less, and
breed once year, having one calf.
Then, did you know that the sea
lion has no tongue? That is true. He
swallows his fish whole and always
head first. They do not drink water
either, though people say am a liar
when I say so. They absorb it
through their skin. twas by watch
ing them during the rutting season
that I found that they could live
for DAYS and weeks Out Of water -