Evening star., 1901-02-09
SEALS ON CATALINA ISLAND.
Do Not Seem to .e at All Afraid of
Visitors.
From the Los Angeles Herald

From the Los Angeles Herald.
At the east end of Catalina Island, four
miles from Avalon bay, the seals reside.
Large numbers are there all Of the time.
1t Is quite an attractive spot for island
visitors. During the summer season it Is
no uncommon sound 10 hear some rustler
cry out, "Au aboard for Seal rocks! The
power launch will leave the bath house
wharf in twenty minutes. All aboard for
Seal rocks!'
The visitors DO not all visit the rocks,
but they all get glimpse of the seals, FOR
evely day some of them come TO Avalon
bay.
ON Catalina Island the swimmer finds n
ccngenlal cline. Every day in the year, ex
cept stormy ones, IS warm enough for
aihing IN The waters of the Pacific. A few
days past some gentlemen stopping at the
Metropoe Hotel, together with Messrs.
Howard chief clerk, and Meyers, chief
musician, were enjoying morning swim,
when one large seal bobbed up by the side
of a gentleman. After the surprise of his
SealShipS presence was over he began to
talk to the animal and make signs of
friendship, which attracted reciprocal at
tentlon on The part of the seal. Not many
moments passed before the men We're all
near the spot, and each Joined in the efforts
to establish friendly relations. Soon sew
eral more of the seals came to the side of
their companion and seemed to intelligently
partake OF the amusement. Inc men WOulu
invite them TO come and shake hands and
they came closer as ii in answer to the in
vjtation One of the batherS shouted, Now,
look out! am going to dive. Suiting the
action to his words. he plunged under the
water toward them, they in turn diving.
When the gentleman again took his place
on tile bottom what was his surprise to
feel the body of one of the seals scrape be-
tween his legs, coming to the surface near
him and looking at him if to say, Il
am now even on the diving proposition.
The men and seals enjoyed themselves for
some time, parting company to meet some
other day.
1t is well known among naturalists that
baby seal Is born on land. The mother
teaches the little fellow how to swim by
placing her nose under its chin. thus keep
ing him from sinking. After a few lessons
the youngster will venture a few yards
from shore. The affection displayed by the
mother for her offspring is wonderful.
Some time ago a venturesome youth left
Avalon with the avowed purpose of cap
turing baby seal to make pet OF it. He
succeeded in getting one Of the little fel.
lows from his home and brought him to
Avalon. AS soon as the authorities learned
tlat such was the case they compelled the
adventurer to take the little one back to
its mother. Several gentlemen accompanied
the fellow on his trip back to the rocks in
order to see that the seal was taken home
and not thrown out of the boat when out
of sight of town. When at the Seal rocks
the little captive was liberated. No sooner
done than the mother met her babe, caress-
ing it in every conceivable manner, and to
the onlookers seemed to sing a song Of re.
joicing, in which she was not alone. for,
like the return Of the prodgal of Bible
times, all the seals seemed to draw near
and help to rejoice over the return of their
supposed lost one.
In many ways the seal tells of his great
intelligence. Being constituted like the
human being in some respects, they most
clearly illustrate the nearness Of kinshp in
one. They like to have some one do the
work while they enjoy the benefits. One
evening, while standing on the deck of one
of the large yachts, l noticed seal dodging
around a fisherman's smack If in search
of something: when, to my surprise, he
After surveying the craft for moment,
he awkwardly crawled to the boxes where
the fish are put when caught. and made a
diligent search for his supper. After find
ing all empty he glanced about with dis
gusted look and tumbled back into the
ocean.
Whenever they come to the bay to fish
or feed on what has been thrown out the
seals find great number of gullS there for
the same purpose. Whenever a seal finds
a dead fish lying the bottom he brings
up large pieces of it that he may eat upon
the surface of the water No sooner visible
to the eye Of the gull than the feathered
fisher makes a dart at the seal to obtain
a part of his fish. The seal has fear Of
the gull that is amusing; for just as quick
as the bird goes toward him down under
the water he goes as If shot at or attacked
by some monster enemy. The reason for
their fear is because of the well-sharpened
that the seals never harm the birds, which
they could do very easily, while diving
under them, for very often the seal comes
to the surface very near the birds.