New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-04

The season for killing the most expensive tur
producing animal-the otter-the fur OF which IS
manufactured into robes for potentates and princes
OF the Old World capitalist. OF this and other
countries. closed October I. having begun on
May l. According TO reports received at the Treas
ury Department and the Department OF Commerce
and Labor. the latter Of which exerts Official SUI
pervsion over the otter industry in Alaska. 50
FAR the preservation and regulation Of hunting
and killing Of the animal are concerned. the sea
otter IS becoming scarcer every year and threatens
in short time 70 enter the list OF animals OF
the extinct class
1t IS not generally known that The only species
Of sea otter is found the northern Asiatic and
northwestern American coast. and Il is remark
able that the extent OF territory in the United
States where these animals are taken IS ex-
treu1ely limited being only from Damons Point. at
the northern entrance 10 Gray's Harbor. Up the
coast TO Point GreenvfIe. in the State % wash
ington, a distance Of about twenty-four miles The
animal is a descendant Of an extinct race and
really belongs to a Qast age. He IS shy and hard
to locate. employing clever means to avoid the
enemy. Sea offers are most frequently found in
masses OF what IS known TO the sailors as bladder
keIp" and sometimes sea otter cab5ase.-. This
kep. like the animal that nhabts it. IS Il relic Of
bygone ages. 1t is a giant seaweed found only
il the North Pacific Ocean. among whose huge
fronds the offers make their homes
Nereocystics is the scientific name OF the weed
and its formation has often attracted the atten-
ton Of scientists. The stems are sometimes sew
eCal hundred LeeL lOnS slender but OF
strength and they terminate in large club shaped
bulbs. from which spring tufts OF fronds o. Il
gantic size. The stems and fronds become 50
thickly massed together that they form floating
islands which are the home OF the sea offers
Unlike that OF the seal. the fur OF the sea otter
requires no pIucking Of hair or colornz-ln fact
the most valuable skins those which are sosck-
led through with a silver tipped fur the addition
Of this hair adding % to 30 per cent 70 the price
Of the skin. The otter hunters build for them
three slim poles pieces OF timber. each about
forty feet in length They bolt them securely to
gether at one end for the TOP. and spread them
about twenty-five feet apart at the bottom giving
! them the appearance Of huge tripod. These are
set ne ocean beach. about midway between high
and low tides the feet OF the poles being fuosdded
in the sand from to three feet The structure
IS then thoroughly braced and ladder built TO the
top by mailing pieces at convenient distances cross
the inland portion Of the tripod. About efC-
teen inches below the top OF the tripod cross tim,
bers secured the legs. and upon these cross
tinbers floor from four 20 Eve feet square is laid
and on the oceanward and two adjacent sides walls
| are built Up from three to four feet n height.
On the land side a door is coustructeI 70 allow
easy ingress and egress to and from this crows
nest" On the top Of the tripod. which extends
about eighteen inches above the foor seat IS
constructed. and around the inside OF the wall a
row OF shelving IS placed At low tide. when the
wind IS propitious. the hunter HES himself 70 his
crows nest armed with a good pair OF glasses
a rife. luncheon and little something 20 keep
him and for six long hours re scans the line
OF the ocean Just outside OF the breakers where
ne expects his game TO appear. When the tide
first begins TO food, his range Is about six hun
dred yards but as IT runs in the range is short
ened to two hundred or three hundred yards. Even
these latter distances f. requires close caicUla-
ton to know just how 70 shoot 70 overcome the
rise and fall OF the ocean swell and the effect
OF the wind upon the bullets. Il IS said that
one out OF one hundred shots OF the best marks
men IS effective When the tide IS fun the derrick
stands in the midst OF the breakers, and land
/ lubber is apt 10 feel little squearnish looking
| down from the dizzy heights the rolling waters
below. The shooting IS generally done food
tide so that the animal. when killed, will wash
ashore. and then It IS sometimes three OF
four days after IL killed before II Is beached-
/ Each hunter marks his bullets with a mark known
| 70 the other hunters, and when otter Is found
on the beach the rst duty OF the finder Is to look
,or the bullet and ascertain who is the rightful
owner for this sign Is respected among the hunt
| ers as sacredy marks and brands are among
| stocknen- When otter comes ashore with no
bulle; IN him as is frequently the the bullet
having gone clear through the body. and 10 notice
having been given. il is regarded as slick ear,
fl stockmen's parlance. and belongs TO the finder.
| Sometimes an otter. on receiving death shot
| sinks: but the hunter generally knows when ne
| has hit his mark. By observing the water with
/ his glasses he discern. even at the great dis
lance which they shoot the coIorins OF the water
| from the blood OF the animal and + &c does rot
| come ashore on that tide notice IS at once given
| to the other hunters. who then the alert %
| find him II IS the general opinion among hunters
| that beachcombe rs n the shape OF steaIthy
| Indians. get away with many an otter killed %
| white hunters. The Indians hunt the otter in ca
| noes. going and coming IL through the surf
Sometimes they go fifteen twenty niles 20 sea
and stay out several days. But when they hunt
along within a mile two % the shore then there
| IS blood the face Of the moon, and the white
! hunter waxeth vroth. FOR the Indian scares away
! his game.
| The Treasury Department regulations governing
sea otter hunting and vessels employed in trans
porting otter hunting parties within the Terri
| to-ial waters Of Alaska provide that no person
shall be allowed 20 hill sea within the limits
| of Alaska Territory or its waters from oy the
Use OF any boat vessel other than the ordinary
! two hatch skin covered bfda-Ha o. the open Taku-
tat canoe. and they also provide that only sailing