The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-19
SPORT WITH A SEA LION.
HAOkENSAoK RIVER FISHERMEN
KILL ONE AFTER THREE DAYS.

They Pursued 1t UP and Down the River
Trying TO Capture II Alive. but II Eiudcd
Them. aud They Had To shoot 1t-Probn-
big One That Escaped from Glen Isinnd.
On Sunday afternoon Dick Eaton, who has n
boathouse on the Hnckcnsack River midway be-
tween the Turnpike bridge and the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad drawbrldgc,
saw swimming along In tho river with its head
half out OF the water what he took to be a por.
poisc. On tho float In front Of the boathouse
William O'Brien. John Girto, Delo Loranger,
William Dolkrist, and Frank. Arthur and Peter
Eaton were sitting with fish lines in their hands,
EARNING away ns fishermen do when bites are
infrcqucnt. As Dick Eaton called out to them
from the boathouse the sea lion divod, and while
they were watching it came up directly in front
of the float md hut n few feet away,
forcing about two feet of its body straight MP
from the water and giving n roar that started
the echoes. Tho sight frightened the fishermen
to a stundstill. but tho roar made them drop
fish lines and scoop nets and sprint for the river
bank, whore they gaZed back with blanChcd
faces at what they thought was the sea serpent.
Dick Eaton, however, had a better chance
for observing the thing and properly sized
IL up as n sea lion. For two hours II
sported about the boathouse. and as 1t
appeared tame, the eight fishermen determined
to try and capture IL. All that afternoon tho
men took turns rowing after the beast, but it
would not allow the boat to como nearer than
about fifty feet. When night fell the fishermen
were tired out, and determined to bunk Mt the
boathouse, 80 that an early start after the sea
lion could DO made in the morning.
1t was almost noon before tho sea lion was
found on Monday. He had gone up the river to
the quiet waters near the great turn near Snake
Hill. and when he was sighted was on the bank
I of the river ST rptplinu himself I'M ns hiuh as ppa.
sible. looking around. The fishermen were
armed with boat hooks and inprovised har.
poons, and when the beast was sighted all three
OF the boats. which. had been brought into com.
mission for tho sea lion hunt rapidly approached
with the intention on the part OF the fishermen
the sG riverE bank bne o'' III ,hs sea .h Iion msTs nient Wn1sn w icns
different, however, and when the tolts came
too near he opened his great isouth and made
MS tqsHs rattle and, with a roar plunged into
During tho rest of the day the sea lion was
succeeded in getting a boat hook Into one Of its
hippers. but almost instantly regretted it. for
heavy wooden shaft Of the boa, hook. and BIT it
OF Sah r. sllenn al rs sh r . cut aI Ti ,nro a knife msde This his
was declared until o'Brlen, could 20 home to
Jersey, City and get his rifle. Darkness again
fell before his return. but none Of the fishermen
would leave tho river, and again the night was
spent in Eaton's boathouse.
Early on Tuesday morning the sea lion was
Hill. He was apparently doCilc. and the fisher
men determined to make another effort to cap
ture him alive. in the hope OF obtaining q re-
ward. They chased him from the Turnpike
bridge 10 Snake Hill time after time. the great
beast apparently enjoying the sport until noon,
when he got tired of it and climbed upon the
big water main, near the Turnpike bridge, that
supplies Jersey City with Pequannock water.
There he took a sun bath and finally went TO
sleep. Then the boats approached silently until
u Gordon WAS formed about the big pipe. and tho
fishermen prepared to make the beast captive
by q general advance. Just then the sea lion
awoko. He gave one look at his opponents and
with another OF his terrific roars charged di-
rcctly down upon the boats, sliding down the iron
pipe into the river and dashing after the fsh-
ermen, who had promptly taken 10 their oars rs
soon AS the beast showed fight. After this
efforts to capture tho lion alive were given up.
front. That afternoon six bullets were pumped
into the beast soft hide. but Apparently none
OF them reached a vital spot. Night fell while
OBricn was being rowed along the river bank
looking for the beast.
Just after daybreak yesterday morning the
sea lion was found asleep on top of the stream,
and IA wcll.directed shot broke its neck. The
sea lion sank to the bottom AS soon as he was
killed; but the body was recovered within two
hours and towed to Eaton's hoathousc. where it
was put on ice to await the reward the fisher
men expect for the carcass. which weighs 400
pounds and is : feet = inches long.
1t is supposed that this is the last of the three
sea lions which escaped from Starin's Glen
Island preserves recently. Two OF them were
recaptured. and it II supposed that this one.
after about New York Bay. finally
entered the Kills, and from there lourncyed up
Newark Bay into the Hackcnsack River.