The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-20
HUNTING OTTER AND ABALoNEs.
Two Unique Industries Pursued on
the California Coast.
From the Nnw York Times.

Pasadena, Cal-Ihere are several indus
tries in California which are unique. One
is otter hunting on the oft-shore islands,
another abalone collecting. The former
dangerous pursuit is followed by Ameri-
cans in stout boats; and the latter by
Chinese. who sail across the channel in
juu!,s Of the type to be found in China to-
day--a ship with eyes and a tiller so high
in air that a man OF ordinary hight is
obliged to reach up to hold IT,
The otter is becoming very rare in
Southern California. Forty or fifty years
ago it was taken in goodly numbers, but
now 1t is confined - the outer Islands of
this region, where high winds prevail and
the water is too rough for any one but
the most intrepid hunters. On the wind
ward side of Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San
Nicolas, and san Clemen1e Islands, the
valuable little animal is yet TO be found.
The otter hunters generally cruise about
in a small schooner which lies OF
shore while they go ashore in double
ended small boat, constructed with view
to riding heavy seas. This craft is rowed
along outside of the kclp; the man IN
the bow, with rife in hand, watching the
kelp bed carefully for the round, catlike
head of the otter that is liable to appear
at any moment The little animal is very
shy, and is away at the slightest alarm,
They lie in the kelp ana play with their
young, tossing them in the air OF riding
with them on the swels.
The writer saw a white otter few years
ago at Santa Catalina Island. 1t was
among the dark fronds of kelp, and when
it thrust up its head, was a very con.
spicuous object, There was a heavy sea
beating on the inhospitable rocks, but
the boat was allowed to drift in as far
as safety permitted, where the little crea-
ture could be observed 1t lodged in and
out behind the rocks, watching the boat
with the greatest curiosity, and perhaps
dismay. When approached too near, It
dived and disappeared.
The danger and difficulty in otter hunt
ing can hardly be appreciated. The boat
is never still, rising and falling upon high
seas and the hunter must watch his op-
portunity to shoot the lttle animal before
II can escape and then catch IL before It
sinks. Numbers of offers are still caught,
but the danger and hardships entailed rem
der 1t an improbable business. In North
ern California the otter hunters have sin
gular observation posts at various points,
where men are raised high above the wat
er, who signal to the camp when an otter
appears, or. If 1t is within reach, shoot
at Il.
Another singular California industry in
the hands of the Chinese is the collection
Of abalones, the Haliotis of science, sew
eral species of which are found on the
Pacific coast. The shell when polished
presents a beautiful appearance The alb
alone has a threefod value; First, for the
meat 1t produces second the she'll, and,
third, for the pearls.
The Santa Catalina Islands are the head
quarters for this industry, the methods Of
which were observed by the writer at San
Clemente. A crude high-pooped junk,
with a big eye forward was the source
of supply and had landed a band of ten
men on the island, which is forty or more
miles from San Pedro. She had deposited
another band at San Nicholas, sixty miles
distant, and was now running between
these islands and the mainland, providing
the men with provisions and carrying the
shells to the coast. The men were in
camp on a little bay, and near by were
great gunny sacks Of abaloncs, ready for
shipment. Every morning the hunters
started out, some wading along the rocks
at low tide, armed with a long pole, on
the end of which was an implement like
O chisel intended for brying off the shells
aba.ones are found just below tide water.
some in water ten feet deep. and In a sea
way they are difficult to secure. The
men are sometimes bruised by being
| thrown against the rocks, and an occa-
sional death by drowning has been known.
A remarkable case Of the latter occurred
on the coast opposite San Jose. China
man was wading along at low tide. and In
his endeavors to lift or pry a She. from
the rocks 1t caught his hand and held him
| until the tide rose, drowning him. Boats
! working in a heavy sea are often hurled
upon the rocks and the men injured.
The shells when found are relieved OF
their meat, the latter being dried and sold
in the local Chinatown or shipped to Chi
rl.1,-a . fe .a~f1 ars IoIf T.,
the hotels of the California coast abalone
chowder is a popular dish. To the nnlni-
! tated it's preparation IL a mystery rs no
! amount of cooking has any effect upon A.
until Il has been thoroughly pounded with
! a hammer or Ratchet, breaking the leath-
| cry muscle, when the meat becomes ten
| der and appetiZing.
The shell Itself is in high favor both I'm
this country and Germany. In the latter
| il is made into cheap tewelry, buttons and
various articles, which are reshipped to
this country. II is also employed for In
| LAYING furniture and various fancy OBJ
| jects The dust is utilized. and tons Of the
| polished shells are sold as curiosites. In
polishing the shells much skill is exercised
! to produce the best effects in the white
| black, red and green markings, especially
! In the black and silver abalones; the cut
| ter or po.isher often produces a perfect
cross of black against a surface Of white
which shells find ready sale, the purchaser
I often assuming that the cross appeared
upon the shell In nature
! During the past year the record obtain
ed was as follows: San Diego county pro-
| duced 124, 30 pounds Of abalone meat and
she'll valued at 1874: Los Angeles county
| 5000 pounds and Monterey county, S.7f
pounds. In all, about $1,000 Is realized for
| the yearly catch.
Abaione pearls ar. found loose In the
folds Of the animal or attached TO the
shell. In the latter case they are broken
Off. and sold by the lot. Occasionally per-
feet Dc lris are found. which bring a large
price. but the imperfect ones sell 70 tour
! lists and curiosity seekers for small sums
A New York snake story.
Mounted Park Policeman Dooladdy Is
| ....n .rit., fnr ihla nnnkn aInrv anua thu