New-York tribune., 1903-01-11
THE AQUARIUM SEALS.
characteristics of the One Which Has Just
Died

The big female West Indian SEAL known at the
Aquarium by the attendants as mo. 2, whicn
died the other day, was probably the Aquarium
hest known exhibit More persons will remember
her and her habit of playing tricks on the spec
tators than any of the othe- exhibits Her tank
was always the centre of attraction. Notwith-
standing the sign which was posted on one END OF
the tank warning people to keep at the otner emo
IL they would not get wet, many were wiling TO
take the chance for the pleasure Of watching her
She was discriminating in her choice of subjects
for her trick and showed her intelligence by the
subtlety with which she perpetrated it. She
would swim about the pool as If paying no at
tention to any and suddenly stopping turn
her head to side and bark Her aim was
usually good, and the water. about quart IN
ouantfty reached Its mark with startling speed
and certainty. 1t is told of one young man. whose
bright necktie became her target. that When tne
water struck him he was so startled that ne ieh
over backward and would have fallen to the floor
had not attendant caught him. The seal, see
ing him disappear got UP the ledge of the pool
and looked over to learn what had become OF him.
When the Indians of Buffalo Bills Wild West
Show dressed in their native costumes and with
painted faces visited the Aquarium. they were
greatly interested in mo. g." They gathered
around the tank and watched her as she swan
around 1t, looking up at them In wondermenI
Fearing that their bright colors would become the
seals target they were warned OF her JOKING
propensity through interpreter. On their guard.
they watched her swimming about the tank, put
she seemed to have desire to spoil their COM
plexions.
She was said to be the only one Of her species
in captivity 1t is doubtful If the Aquarium will
have another as the species is nearly extinct.
Two centuries ago they were caught in the Carfo-
bean Sea in great numbers for their OIL ABOUT
one hundred and fifty years ago they were nearly
exterminated. 1t is said that when the seals. or
which mo. g. was one, captured. captain
Martin, of the fishing boat that made the haul dld
not know what they were when he hrst saw tnein
In his search for Pensacola snappers near the
Campeche banks one bright day he saw lying on
the sand a group Of strange looking animals;
Landing with several of his men ne approaches
the herd, which he found to contain from twenty
five to thirty of these seals. They cautiously Drew
near, but the seals paid attention TO them pc
yond raising their heads. number of the seals
were taken alive to Pensacola, Where rhey @ Mere
kept until early the next summer. They were
caught in the winter of 1ss6-'97 and brought to
NeW-York In June. Three of the number were
taken to the Aquarium. OF these enc died almost
Immediately The other two, a male and femaie,
exhibited. the former until March, 1885, when
he died from pneumonia, and the latter untL iasI
Tuesday, when she died from fatty degeneration
of the heart, liver and kidneys, due to lack OF
room for exercise and confinement The male was
known as mo. l." 1t he who first developed