The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-30
4 SEA LION MARKET.
San Francisco Physicians
Method Of RAISING Funds
to Follow His Profession


A car load of sea lions, direct from
Santa Barbara Islands, about thirty
m5les off the coast of Southern California.
have attracted hundreds Of persons 20
the Pennsylvania Railroad stock yaras'
at the foot Of Sixth street The animals
are in their wild state. About a month
ago, the seals are fully grown, were
| sporting in the waters of the Paclhc
Ocean. They were captured by Dr.. =. Z.
Wempie. Jr., of No. 720 Steiner street.
San Francisco, and a party OF Spanish
fishermen. DIR. Wemple, who IS put
twenty-five years old, is a graduate OF the
| University of California. After he gradu-
ated he found his finances low and could
not purchase his instruments. He could
| not see his way clear. so he decided TO
make one attempt. He visited the
Geological Gardens in San francisco ana
noted what an attraction sea lions We're.
He then decided to go into the sea hon
business. so he fitted out an expedition.
Each of the Spaniards who accompanied
the expedition was an expert with the
lasso. DIR. Wemple chartered q schooner,
supplied with the necessary ~parapher-
MALTA and set sail for the islands. On
these islands are deep caves in which the
sea lions. which are to be found plenti-
fully. seek refuge for the night. One OF
these caves extends back into one or the
Islands 700 feet. DR.. wenple joined with
them in the work and endured all the
hardships they suffered.
TO catch the animals the hunters were
compelled to enter the deep caves about
two o'clock in the morning The lions
sleep at that time. Three of the men who
entered the cave were badly bitten by the
lions and were severely injured. The
lions caught were lassoed and after their
tails had been dashed they were placed
along the walls of the Three sides
Of crates had been built previously and
were taken into the cave. Before the top
of the crate was placed in position the
lion was put into it. When the lions had
been safely Grated they were put aboard
a schooner. Forty lions were caught
during the ten days trip
On reaching San Francisco DR.. Wemple
placed the crates containing the lions in
a refrigerator car and started on his trip
across the continent. The lions did not
eat anything for several days after the
Journey began. The animals had to be
drenched with water from a hose every
four hours, Notwithstanding the fact that
1900 pounds of ice were in the car to keep
the animals alive. Wemple disposed of
nineteen of the animals before reaching
Jersey City. Six were sold to p. D. Cal
vim, Karl Hagenbach's representative, In
Chicago; W to Prof. Woodward, of
Columbus. Ohio, to be trained for Fore
paugh's Circus in West Virginia. One
was left at the Geological Gardens in
Pittsburg, and the others were disposed
of to the proprietors of concert gardens
in the large cities, while en- route, for
exhibition purposes. OF the remaining
t~wenty-one, four were sent this morning
to Bronx Park. The others are yet to be
disposed of. The lions weigh from 125 to
200 pounds. They sell for 500 a piece.
The remaining seventeen seals each eat
eighty pounds of fish daily.
DR.. Wernp,e has made enough from his
venture to return to his native land and
start practice