The evening times., 1900-06-13
FISHING FOR ALBATROSS
Caught With Bait Thrown Over the
Ships Stern.
No Fear of Man Felt by This Great
Marine Rird-It S.ims Over the
Seas With Wings Thrown Back and
Resembling "A Pair OF Lateen Sails.
Some of It's Chief characteristics.


Tristan da Cunha three or four species Of
albatross had congregated round the ship,
as many as thirty birds settling on the
water astern in a manner highly salts
factory for close and continuous observa-
ton. After half gale OF wind a lull not
infrequently occurs, when the speed is re-
dueed to Two OF three knots; then the
hungry creatures literally cIamor for feed.
Directly a bird intends 10 alight the legs
appear straddling downward - ungainly
fashion, moment when even AZ albatrOss
looks like an Unbalanced goose Of IN
wieldly size. Fer half a minute IL runs
along the surface OF the waves, treading
water, so 10 speak, until the enormous
wings become manageable Then the bird
swims with both wings thrown back, like
pair Of lateen sails, very Argonaut on
the translucent sea
AT length the difficulty is overcome, the
wings are packed away. and-like a large
guilt rides the waves with consummaJe
ease. Sometimes it paddles TO and fro, or,
again il dives gracefully beneath the sur
face after squids or similar ocean dain-
ties. Half dozen birds, perhaps, gravely
assemble TO inspect an empty beer bottle
thrown overheard, to bob up and down
IDLY upon the waves, and inquisitiye bills
peck vigorously AT the unsatisfactory fiot-
sam until a battle royal disperses the
family party. The wiser ones meanwhile
hover in midair, craning their necks to
throw penetrating glanees from a superior
height.
With the birds settling down by the
dozen. il is easy enough 10 capture speci-
mems for examination, without causing in
jury or pain. Any sharply barbed book
is altogether superfuous- The albatrosses
absolutely enjoy the excitement. and the
sport obtained is not without a novel In
terest. A small metal frame should be
made in the shape OF hollow triangle, at
taehed TO a hundred yards of stout line,
and kept afoat by a good sized piece OF
cork. The sides of the metal frame are
then covered with bits OF al pork, the hard
skin Of which is securely bound thereto
the bait is thrown asteTn. and the line
is slowly paid out Presently a Great Al
batross swoops through the air, impelled
by curiosity to investigate the nature OF
the floating pork. II settles before the
dainty morsel of food. numbers of birds
follow suit. each one made bold by compe-
titiOn, and then the sport begins. At this
moment additional line must be given in
order to compensate for the progression Of
the ship, thus enabling the bird 10 seize
the desired food.
With a sudden rush the supreme effort
is made. Once or twice the attempt proves
Intellectual but, rendered bold By greedi-
ness. a final grab finds the curved bill Sc
curely wedged inside the apex Of the tri-
angle. as the fierce tugs on the line quick
" Indicate Steadily the haul was made,
hand over hand. until a helpless albatross
| is bodily lifted on TO the poop IN an abso-
| lutely uniniured condition. A slackened
line enables the bird 10 escape, and If
scattered wits permitted such an effort
nd fwNr QTc onrn role
The other birds invariably commence 10
atta,k a captured cOmrade, a steady pull
I being required, even If the line does cut
your hands. to save II from its friends.
Once safely on deck, the mandibles are
| tied together, for otherwise the bird
| throws up an oily fluid. a disagTeeable hab-
| il possessed by all the tribe. Subject 10
this preeaution, il may wander gravely
around TO survey the new horizon of life.
\ The large eyes gaze with a truly pathetic
| confidence, expressive Of anything but fear.
! II is a strange spectacle TO witness the
/ inquIsitive bird solennly waddle TO and
( fro among the equally inquisitive human
/ beings around. True, il objects slightly TO
4 the process of measurement. pecki1g
/ sharply by way of protest. but gentle
/ box on the ear soon induces submission
/ es the dimensions are rapidly noted, the
! albatross meanwhile reposing at1ectiOnate-
| Iy in the arms of the second officer
| The specimen happens-to be small
| one but the wing expansion from tip 10
| tip is no less than ten feet; the extreme
! length OF body is three feet six inches, and
| the formidable bill measures upward Of
I four inches. Everything about the Great
| Wandering AlbatToss Cd. eXulans) is vast
| the wings are enormous; the flight Is
| reckoned by the thousand miles, and its
| very nest may be found within the ex-
| tinct crater on the adjacent island of Iris
4
| level. The plumage varies greatly on diff
] ferent specimens and at different seasons;
| young ones, like our friend under obser-
/ walton, having mottled brown appear
/ ance. The bill has a rosy tinge at the
| base OF the mandibles. passing into horn
| color at the tip of the curve Of the culmen.
| The head, neck, and body, together with
| the breasts. are principally white the
/ mantle has beautiful pencilings of black.
| TIE wings are brown above and white un-
| derueath. tipped above and below with
| Great Albatross-
The tail is chiefly white. relieved by
biotches of black, which give the appear
| ance OF black bar edging the white CO.
| verts. The legs, feet, and toes have Pc
culiar blush grey. with a suspicion OF q
liyid pinkinsh hue, somewhat difficult tc
define The black pupils are bordered with
l
! be the average wing measurement, al
| though gigantic specimen in the Sydney
| Museum extends seventeen feet inches
| with bill six Inches long. All sailors are
| familiar with the great Wondering Alba
| trcss in its varying plumage. While the
young, and even second year, birds possess
| every variety Of brown coloration, the real
| ly mature specimens-sspecially round the
| Horn-are nearly pure white, with the
black tips above and below Most Of the
other species are hopelessly confused By
sailors under the general term molly
mauk" Ia word spelled in divers ways)
| and ii took me meany weeks to distinguish
! tn different kinds.-The Cornhill Magazine
A SIXTH SENSE IN ANIMALS