The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1898-11-22
SKIN OF THE SEA OTTER.
a Fur That In becoming Very Ex-
pensive Because OF Its
Scarcity.

the fur of the sea otter was quoted
. at an average of ESQ, or $3.50, per skin.
The animal, when it is alive and wear
Ing the fur itself, is from three to five
feet in length from nose to tail tip,
though the skin lying upon it in
loose folds, the actual ''pelt" is of fair
size. Still, sea otter skins at $3.50,
while sealskins are worth from SIS
to $40, cannot be considered econom-
ical wear.
Ever since Behring, sailing from
Russia, discovered Alaska, and found
its natives clad in otter skin, this fur
has been the prime object of the pelt
hunters desire. Sable, marten, mink
and even ermine can be trapped or
shot without extraordinary trouble;
seals are driven inland Like fools to
be slaughtered and skinned at their
captors' leisure. But the sea otter
must be sought diligently as the dia-
mond, for three centuries of expert
| ence have made him wise.
Upon the map of North America
may be seen, juttipg from the south
ern corner of Alaska-which is the
northwest corner of the continent
Alaska, a peninsula which breaks off
into a chain of islands called the
Aleusians. Just where the peninsula
ends and the islands begin a point may
be noticed marked Belkovsky.
This is the headquarters of the sea
otter hunters, and between here and
Chernaboor island to the south and
Saanak island to the southwest the
bulk of the sea offers are taken.
Thoroughly impressed with the
value of his own skin, the sea otter
takes care fit by living far away from
the mainland, sleeping with one eye
open upon the floating weed beds or
sea-washed reef exposed to the full
fury of the North Pacific.
AT the slightest sign of the ap-
proach of man he dives deep and stays
below for 20 minutes at time.
Sometimes stray otter may be
shot from the land as he plays on the
surf, but the chief methods of his cap !
ture are "the surround" and clubbing.
In the former case party of Aleutian |
islanders are conveyed to Saanak, |
there to encamp for two or three
months.
Woe to the hunters if the wind be off
the shore, for then n fire may be Lit to
make the beloved tea, no pipe of to-
bacco smoked, or the hope of capture
would be vain. For the otter is all
eyes and ears and nose when alive; all
fur when dead.
Upon calm day the hunters paddle
gently over the sea in their skin ca
noes, keeping an eager eye upon the
rolling surf for a sign of the prey. A
hunter sees an otter and makes a
quiet signal to his mates; like a flash
the quarry has dived. Raising his oar
aloft, the man who found the otter
as buoy above the place of
the animals disappearance, while his
mates form in huge circle, with him
in the center.
In 20 minutes, at most, the otter
comes up again in sight of some of the
canoemen. a frightful yell drives the
poor brute below again before he has
had time to fiji his lungs. Shortly he
Is again seen. and the process repeated,
til at length his body is so gas-infated
that he cannot sink, aud falls a prey
to the lucky hunter whose spear first
pierces that too, toe rich coat of his.
Luck varies. and the sea otter is
yearly rarer and more shy; but, if for
Iunate, each hunter may have from
two to five skins for the traders al the
result of his three-months' catch.
To be successful hunter requires a
Spartan scorn of comfort, huge pa
ience, keenness of vision and readi- !
less of resource, as well as great dex-
erity in the handling of risky craft
md an intimate knowledge of your S
luarry's habits, which it requires a
lifetime of observation under trying e
conditions to gain.
The surround" then. is no joke, but t
clubbing next door to suicide. The b
Iunters encamped upon Saanak have \
'een for day or two prevented by a
owing gale from doing anything
ave sleep or smoke. One or two of the v
men, knowing, seemingly by instinct, q
hat the gale has almost blown itself II
ut, prepare for clubbing expedition. r
They also know that, much dis n
ressed by the weather, many sea OF f
ers will be sleeping with their heads 81
uried in the seaweed beds about the n
ocky, wind-swept islands of the Cher O
aboor group. Tomorrow, the gale e
yer, the otters will plunge again into e,
be ocean. =,