The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-06-07
CAPTURING SEA LIONS.
Accomplished Only with Great Dim.
Guilty and Danger to Life
and Limb.

A sea lion is really a seal, but larg.
er, stronger and much more feyo-
cious. A great many sea lions are
captured about the Farallones, q
group of islands off the coast of CAL
ifornia, about 30 miles due west from
San Francisco bay, says Golden Days.
The lions come up on the beach and
rocks to bask in the sun, and while
they are asleep the sailors crawl up
as near to them as possible. Almost
invariably the sea lions wake up when
the sailors get within ten or twelve
feet of them and lift up their heads
to fight. Then is the sailors oppor-'
tunity.
Quick as . fash he throws a heavy
canvas sack over the animals head
and twists the slack about it's pow
erful jaws.
The next thing TO be done is to get
a rope about the lions fippers, which
renders him helpless either TO fight
or fly.
The process of capturing sea lions
alive is simple enough to describe. but
IL is dangerous and difficult in prac-
tice.
During a recent expedition in which
IA lions were captured the scenes
Which occurred were very exciting.
The first morning of the hunt, after
three or four sea lions had been cap
tured, n of the sailors discovered
a lion whose gray whiskers and enor-
nous size testified to his great age.
Thu cni1or ,naa.-aI a. 80 L. -.
back over the head Of the beast, but
its strength was so great and its
struggles so violent that il was only
with the greatest difficulty that he
could get the rope over one fipper.
He succeeded finally. but as he at
tempted to tie the other the sack wa
thrown on the animals head, and
with a yelling roar he turned and
made n vicious snap at his captor.
The lion just managed to catch the
thumb and first finger Of his lnft
hand, tearing the thumb, with its
tendons. from the hand and taking
the first joint Of the finger. The
sailor ran a few steps, screaming. and
fell.
The sea lion, nov thoroughly en-
ragged. freed himself from the rope
and sack and advanced with open
jaws on the PROSTATE sailor.
He would undoubtedly have torn the |
man to pieces had o the mate. at
tracted by the seaman's cries. come M |
and shot the animal through the neck. |
Even then il managed TO escape into
the sea again.
This WINS the only serious accident
that marked the expedition.
: Among the sailors was an ex cow.
boy. He attempted TO use his lasso on
the sea lions. but with very poor sue.
cess, as the sea lions head is so small
and neck so large and smooth. that the
moose usually slipped over their heads.
One-a reddish-colored. rather small
lioness- he did catch with his lasso.
Fourteen sea lions were captured in
all. Among these were two superb
males.
TNese two were freed in the hold. and
almost Immediately began to fight.
The smaller of the two was killed. His
hide was torn and punctured in dozens
of places by his adversary's teeth. and
the adversary himself showed that tho
fight was n hard one.
In landing the seals at the wharf
got loose. They looked SO danger
Gus with their appraised heads and shin.
ing teeth that the men hesitatcd to
tackle them. They dived off the wharf
boat In a few seconds, and thus es