The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-03-26
COYOTES OF THE OCEAN,.
SEALS KILL EACH OTHER AND ARE
CRUEL FISH DESTROYERS.

Observations of a Fog Signal Keeper on the
Pacific Coast-SayiDg q Herd Of Seals
From Extinction by Shooting tho
Neutrality-suspicious. Habits OF Seals.
The seals of Ano Nuevo are practi-
cally unknown to both scientists and
the public, Notwithstanding tho fact
that the herds there arc the largest on
the Pacific Coast and the habits Of the
species are the most distinctive, says
the San Francisco Call.
In many ways their habits are some
what similar to those Of sea birds.
Once year the rocks or rookcries arc
covered with seals. Young are born
and raised there, and then o general
migration takes place Of all but the
old females. For months the rookeries
are comparatively deserted. The seals
come and go at regular intervals.
IT was for the purpose Of ascertain
ing something about the habits Of these
seals that q Call representative visited
Ano Nuevo Island just in the height
of the breeding season. Keeper But
we'll, of the fog signal, whose oppor-
tunities for studying seals have I'M
doubleday been most favorable, gladly
furnished all information and acted as
guide to the seal rocks.
"Years ago." said Mr.. Butwell,
"there used to be tens Of thousands of
seals on these rocks, and the killing Of
them WAS profitable industry. The
hides were used for betting and sold
for good price.
"In those days the rock were leased
to hunters, md the killing went on at
o rapid rate. OF course, the seals
rapidly diminished in numbers, as
males, females and pups were killed
Unfortunately. When came here
eight years ago all this had stopped.
No hunters were allowed on the rocks,
and it would seem as if the herds
should have again multiplied, but they
didn't. For four years they kept get
ting fewer, until there were hardly
100 left.
"About this time I began to study
the cause Of the decrease. From this
point here on the island I can look
across to the ,rocks, and by taking q
glass con bring tho seals up very close.
had previously noticed that some of
the bulls had habit Of killing the
young, but had no idea the evil was
SO general as found it to be on inves-
tigation. One morning I saw q GER
tain bull climb on the rocks and kill
about half q dozen pups. Others did
the same, SO it was soon apparent to
mo that the bulls were largely respon-
sible for tho decrease of the herds.
eater becoming convinced that
number Of vicious bulls did all the mis-
chief began o systematic killing Of,
them. I used to go over on the rocks
and lie in wait. Whenever I caught
an old fellow in the act Of killing o
pup I put bullet through his head.
The first season I killed about fifty
and saved many hundred pups, so that
The second year the herds began to in
crease and this year are larger than
they have been since I commenced my
determination Of the vicious bulls.
"The habits Of these seals are most
peculiar and mysterious. After the
pups are born on the rocks the COWS
spend two or three months teaching
them to swim, and then when the time
comes take them to seq somewhere
and leave them. The young seals do
not return to the place Of their birth
until they are two years old, but where
they spend their intervals is o mys-
terry. So you see it took two years to
tell whether the killing of the vicious
bulls did any good or not. But I AIN
satisfied that it did. At any rate the
seals are increasing at % fair rate, and
in few years, with proper nursing. I
think they will be as numerous as ever.
"But, really, when we look at it in
the right way, there is no reason why
The seals should be preserved. It is
purely matter of sentiment. One
full-grown seal will destroy enough
fish in week to feed good-sized
town for month, and the damage
done by the herd is beyond concep-
lion. Seals are really the coyotes of
the sea, and if we look after our own
interests we would be making efforts
to destroy them instead of preserving
them"
Every statement made by Mr.. But
we'll was borne out by observation.
Standing on tho northern edge Of Ano
Nuevo Island the seals method of de
stroying fish could be readily seen.
The tide sweeps rather swiftly through
the camel between the two points,
and naturally school of fish would
be carried along with it. The rookie
ries will be thickly covered with seals,
but the instant certain foamy streak
appeared on the surface OF the water
there will be an almost instantaneous
plunge into the sea. Then the slaugh-
ter commences.
The surface of the water is churned
into foam, on1 thn r.; nht ano1 Geh 1,rt