Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-11-18
HUNTING THE SEA OTTER
ARE CAPTURED WHEN THEY co
FOR A HOLIDAY.

The most beautiful stretch OF ocean
beach to be found anywhere on the
Pacific coast of the United States is
the wide expanse of spotless and gilt
tering sand which lies between Gray's
Harbor and the Quinniault River.
There may be seen an unbroken area
of twenty miles in length, and at low
tide from three to five miles in width,
which would make a moonlight play
Ing ground for the houris.
There are many tower-like structures
at regular distances of perhaps q mile
each which excite the curiosity of the
people on the many coast line steam
ers plying between San Francisco and
northern ports These are the towers
Or shooting boxes of sea otter hunters.
They are built of tall, slender poles,
generally four in number, sunk to 4
great depth and fixed securely in the
sand and surrounded by 4 small box
covered with n roof to protect its oc-
cupants from the burning sun. Cleats
securely fastened to the poles from
bottom to top afford the hunter means
OF ingregs and egress.
The hot sun which blaZes fiercely On
this wide expanse of white sand dur
ing the months of July and August
heats it almost to burning point, and
the waters OF the incoming tide, roll
ing and curling over this hot sand, be-
come deliciously warm. This is the
playing ground OF the sea otter, the
place where they come to spend their
holidays.
They leave their homes IN the far
off rocky islands, where there are no
sand beaches, and the green waters
are cold and deep, and come here like
people to Il watering place, to spend
the summer months in rolling and
tumbling about in this warm water in
a perfect ecstacy of delight. They
leap and play about in the foaming
breakers and polish their beautiful
skins by hugging the sandy bottom
and allowing the ocean swells to drive
and throw them about as they will.
Although sea offers have the timd-
fty which is natural to all wild ami
mails, they are better able to protect
themselves than any Of the other ami
mails which have their homes in the
sea. The swiftness of their move
ments makes 1t possible for them
easily to catch any kind Of small fish,
and thus they can appease their hun
ger with the daintiest food.
No shark can catch them they could
be twenty feet away while Mr.. Shark
was turning on his back, and if the
shark We're directly beneath them
they could throw themselves five feet
in the air like Kaleidoscope. ball
while the ugly monster was swapping
his jaws. The hunter is in his box,
the tide is coming in, and with pow
erful field glass to assist his practiced
eye, he eagerly scans each coming roll
er. He has been here every day for
week, and his rifle has lain untouched
by his side. To-day something may
happen. - wa -.'-
ty,All at once he starts and mutters
little CALCULATIONS; he sees something.
He will soon know what 1t is for the
swells are coming swiftly and the dis
tance between himself and the object
he has seen will be quickly lessened.
Yes, there 1t is again; there is no mis-
take 1t is an otter not more than
600 yards away. The hunter lays
down his glass, and there is $500 or
5000 worth of beautiful, shining fur
plainly visible to the naked eye.
The man in the tower picks up his
Sharp's rifle, inserts 120-grain cart
ridge in the chamber, and there is
wicked wistful gleam in the keen eye
of the hunter as he raises his weapon
for the first shot. There is fash, a
recoil and a report, which is scarcely
distinguishable in the roaring of the
breakers to the man who holds the
gun. Ammunition is no object. and,
with lightning rapidity he loads and
fires his piece. That otter will not be
more than ten feet away from where
he was when the hunter pulled the
trigger when he gets there, and that
hunter can hit bounding deer at 800
yards twice out of five shots. The OF
ter is enjoying himself in the danger
c1ls company of murderous bullets,
which are doing their best to find him.
Another huge breaker brings him
within 200 yards of the blazing rife.
A quick recoil Of the heavy gun turns
the hunter half round; there is an un-
natural splash which tells the man
something has happened. He strains
his eyes; no need of his glass to see
there is blood in the water, and this
tells him that there is big hole some
Thale in that $500.
No need to shoot again; no otter
could bleed like that and not be washed
ashore. The hunter lays down his
heated gun; there will be no more Of
ters in sight to-day. He sees his game
almost opposite his tower; it is drift
ing helplessly toward the shore. That
skin is his, and it's possession means
that he will have everything he wants
for another year If he does not fire a
eingle shot.
The fierce CLEAN of desire has left
his dirty face and has been replaced
nv ono Of DoSsession He Is wild with