The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-23
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SEALS ON CATALINA ISLAND.
Do Not Seem TO he 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 TO hear some
rustler cry out, "All aboard for Seal
rocks! The power launch will leave the
bath house wharf In twenty minutes. All
aboard for Seal rocksp
The visitors do not all visit the rocks,
but they all get a glimpse Of the seals,
for every day some Of them come to Az
alon bay.
on Catalina Island the swimmer finds
a congenial cline. Every day In the year,
except stormy ones, is warm enough for
bathing in the waters Of the Pacific. A
few days past some gentlemen stopping
at the Metropole Hotel, together with
Messrs Howard, chief clerk, and Mey-
ers, chief musician, were enjoying a
morning swim, when one large seal bob
bed up by the side Of a gentleman. After
the surprise Of his sealship's presence
was over he began to talk to the animal
and make signs Of friendship, which at
tracted reciprocal attention on the part
of the seal Not many moments passed
before the men were all near the spot,
and each Joined in the efforts to estab-
fish friendly relations Soon several more
OF the seals came to the side OF their
companion and seemed to intelligently
partake of the amusement. The men
would invite them to come and shake
hands and they came closer as II in an
swer to the invitation. One OF the bath
nffff Il 11tn
to dive" Suitlng the action to his words.
he plunged under the water toward them,
they In turn diving. When the gentle
man again took his place on the bottom
what was his surprise to feel the body
of one of the seals scrape between his
legs, coming to the surface near him and
looking at him as 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.
II is well known among naturalists that
a baby seal Is born on land. The mother
teaches the little fellow how to swim by
placing her nose under it's chin, thus
keeping him from sinking. After few
lessons the youngster VIII venture a few
yards from shore. The affection display
ed by the mother for her offspring Is
wonderful. Some time ago a venturesome
youth left Avalon with the avowed pur-
pose OF capturing a baby seal to make
a pet OF II. lie succeeded In getting one
OF the little fellows from his home and
brought him to Avalon AS soon as the
authorities learned that such was the case
they compelled the adventurer to take tho
little one back TO It's mother. Several gen.
tlemen accompanied the fellow on his
trip back to the rocks In order 10 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 IT.
tie captive was liberated. No sooner done
than the mother met her babe, caressing
Il Ia every conceivable manner. and 10 the
OnlOokers seemed 20 sing song OF re-
jolcinR. IN which she was not alone, for,
ike the return Of the prodigal o. Bible
times, al the seals seemed 20 draw near
and help 10 rejoice over the return Of
their supposed lost one.
In many ways The seal tells Of his greet
infelliRence. Being constituted like enc
human being in some respects, they most
clearly illustrate the nearnesr Of kinshp
in one They Ike 90 have some one DO
enc work while they enjoy the benefits
one evening. Wiiia Standing on the deck
~ one ~ the large yachts. ! noiic %
ffnl dodFnF around "a nfheunan'a smack
a. % in search of somehinN, When, 40
49, surprise, he save Leap from the