The Dickinson press., 1899-03-04
II Willy SEA OTTER
ITS PELT is HIGHLY PRICED AND HARD
TO OBTAIN.

ITS PELT IS HIGHLY PRICED AND HARD
TO OBTAIN.
The Animal Is All Eyer. Ears and
Nose When Alive and AN Fur When
Dead-Its Capture Is Attended With
Great Dangers and H%ardships.
Fifty pounds sterling, or $3.50, per
skin is not an unusually high average
price to pay for the fur of the sea otter,
and at fur sales in London a much
higher price has often been asked and
received. Much, Of course, in the mat
ter Of price depends upon the condition
and size Of the skin. The animal when
it is alive and wearing 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.
Ever since Boring, sailing from Rus
Ella, discovered Alaska and found its ma
tives clad in otter skin this fur has
been the prime object of the pelt hunt
ers' desire. Sable. marten, mink and
even ermine can be trapped or shot
without extraordinary trouble. Seals
are driven inland like fools to be slaugh-
tered and skinned at their captors' lei
sure. But the sea otter must be sought
diligently as the diamond, for three
centuries of experience have made him
wise.
Upon the map of North America may
be seen jutting from the southern cor
ner of Alaska, which is the northwest
corner of the continent, ALASKA, a Pc
ninsula, which breaks off into a chain
of islands called the Aleutians. Just
where the peninsula ends and the is
lands 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 Saa-
max island to the southwest the bulk Of
the sea offers are taken.
Thoroughly impressed with the val
ne of his W skin, the sea otter takes
care of it by living far away from the
mainland, sleeping with one eye open,
upon the floating weed beds or a sea
washed reef exposed to the full fury Of
the north Pacific.
At the slightest sign of the approach
of man he dives deep, and stays below
for 20 minutes at a time.
Sometimes a stray otter may be shot
from the land as he plays in the surf,
but the chief methods of his capture
are "the surround and clubbing. In
the former case a party of Aleutian is
landers are conveyed to Saanak, there
to encamp for two or three months.
Woe to the hunters if the wind be of
the shore, for then no fire may be lit to
make the beloved tea, no pipe Of tobac.
co smoked, or the hope of a capture
would be vain. For the otter is all
eyes and ears and nose when alive; all
fur when dead.
Upon a calm day the hunters paddle
gently over the sea in their skin canoes,
keeping an eager eye upon the rolling
surf for a sign of the prey. A hunter
sees an otter and makes a quiet sigma,
to his mates. Like a flash the quarry
has dived. Raising his oar aloft, thu
man who found the otter remains as
buoy above the place of the animal
uAo0pPOQAdASO, "AAAO LID 11dtSS 1O1Iu IL
a huge circle with him in the center.
In 20 minutes, at most, the ottel
comes up again in sight of some of tn,
n men. A frightful yell drives tn,
poor brute below again before he haI
had time to fill his lungs. Shortly he il
again seen, and the process repeated
till at length his body is so gas inflated
that he cannot sink and falls a prey t.
the lucky hunter whose spear frs
pierces that too rich coat of his.
Luck varies. and the sea otter i
yearly rarer and more shy, but, if for
tunate, each hunter may have from tw,
to five skins for the traders as the re
suit Of his three months catch.
To be a successful hunter requires
Spartan scorn Of comfort, huge pa
thence, keenness Of vision and READINGS
, Of resource, as we'll as great dexterit
: In the handling Of a risky craft an
q intimate knowledge of your quarry
: habits which it requires a lifetime Q
observation under trying conditions t
gain.
: "The surround" then, is no joke
but clubbing next door to suicide. Th
hunters encamped upon Saanak hav
been for a day or two prevented by
bowling gale from doing anything say
sleep or smoke. One or two of the mer
knowing, seemingly by instinct, tina
the gale has almost blown itself out
prepare for a clubbing expedition.
Should they in the dark and turmo'
miss the islands some score Of mile
away they are carried out into til
ocean and certain death. If, on the oil
or hand, they make their haven, the
land and creep, club in hand, over tt
. rocky coast to the ocean swelled re,
where the offers sleep.
The roar Of the gale browns the SOUL
of their approach, and the poor otter
a mere s'pelt" before he knows of h
danger. Scores Of offers have been kille
in n night by a clubman or two. B,
otter clubbing is not a means of livel
hood likely to become generally popula
Chambers Journal
Poetics Squelched.
i, Weary Watkins-Oh, that I had Ii
l.. wings of a birdl
Hungry Higgins-They's less mes
On the wings than they is on any othe
>, . A:-1ndianapoNs journal.