New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02
THE RUNAWAY SEALS.

CAN THEY LIVE IN THE WATERS OF THE
SOUND e-REwARD FOR MINNIEs CAPTURE.
So far as can be learned. the nine seals which es-
capped from the seal lake at Glen Island are still at
large in TIE Sound Glen Island has among its
many attractions a Zoo" feature of which was
the seal lake containing twenty-nine seals. Last
Monday in mysterious manner nine c.. these
escaped through sluice gate into the Sound.
Among them Minnie performing seal OF
world wide reputation for whose return Mr.. Nc
Cormack, in charge OF the animals at Glen Island,
has offered reward of $500. 1t is suspected that
Minnie. who knows thing two in the way Of
tricks drew the bolt of the gate thus allowing
the escape.
Reports have come in ON several occasions that
seals have been sighted by men from boats, but
attempts TO catch them have been OF no avail. In
one case where several men were fishing the seals
close TO the boat and were fed with fishes. and
followed the boat for some distance, but refused 10
be decoyed into shallow water.
Some curiosity has been expressed by those who
read the accounts OF the escape to the chances Of
these runaways living in the waters of the Sound
at this time Of the year. If it were merely matter
Of climatic conditions there would be little doubt
that they wopld flourish nicely. for they have in
captivity endured the heat of the summer season
swimming in the water of the Sound which was let
into their lake fresh every day by means OF the
suice gate through which the nine seals made their
escape The main question that concerns their we'll
being Is OF food supply. They have big eating
capacity VIII they lind fish in large enough quaint
ties 10 satisfy their appettes? If they may keep
alive until some of their friends down from the
north next fail when they may again fnd their way
back 10 the haunts Of their nativity 70 give instruc
ton in all the ways and manners which they have
learned from their human keepers
Frank VI. Chapman. assistant curator in the de-
partment Of birds and mammals a. the Museum OF
Natural History. told Tribune reporter Yesterday
that seals were found all the way from the North
10 the South Pole There were Antarctic well IA
Arctic He said that h had read the accounts
OF the escape OF the nine seals from Glen Island but
il would be necessary to know what kind they were
before predicting just what were their chances or
living He thought. however. that probably they
were what is known "harbor" seals, and II SUCH
were the they would take care of themselves
"Uarbor' seals had been seen in the Sound. on the
coas, up the Hudson, In Massachusetts Bay and
other points further south lie said ina; they were
not 70 found south at this time OF the year for
il was her breeding time. They had gone north
October and the winter months brought them south.
floating or the ice They had been known 70 ge' up
the Hudson far as P-ekskill and had been caught
bv fishermen in their nets. The "harbor'' seal
known TO breed far south as Sable Island off the
coast OF Nova Scotia.
'iIarbor' seals and lions were those most COM
mon I'm captivity. The lion Is a Pacific Coast
animal and would no doubt find some difficulty In
looking out for himself in The Sound Seals rely
mainly upon fish for food. If the runaways make
their abode in the waters in and aboul New York
the sport OF fishing may have a serious falling of.
II Is said that escaped seals are all tame and
gentle II one cha 10 any OF them while out
on the water there would be no danger In attempt
ing to make a capture. Mayhap II would prove TO
be Minnie and $500 is worth the trouble OF going
a