Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-03-12

Old soldiers declare that it is a
times impossible to take sounding
in the bay, because the sharks are
so thick that there isn't room tt
heave the lead throug them.
The morning plunge oversize reg
ularly enjoyed by the officers an
men in many of the tropical ports is
quite out of the question in the bay
There is, to be sure, no record
anyone in the navy having been at
tackled by shark in these waters
fact not so remarkable when it il
also learned that there is no record
of anyone having exposed himself.
The sharks of the bay take almost
any kind of bait, and it is rarely tina
warship is at anchor without from
one to half dozen lines dangel
ing over it's stern. Watching a shark
line is tedious business, but it is
strictly necessary in order for the
fisherman to know when the monster
Is hooked, as his frantic rushes, l.
allowed to go unchecked, are pretty
sure to cause some part of the line,
leader, or even some of his own an
atomy to give away and result in his
escape. The old scheme of tying the
line arount the big toe and going to
sleep would probably work all right
as far as rousing the fisherman is
concerned, but the SEQUEL might not
leave him in a condition to give the
immediate attention necessary. To
this end the officers and sailors have
hit on an ingenious plan. Instead
of taking in their lines when the
dinner gong sounds, or when for 9TH
er reason they are on duty elsewhere,
they run a stout piece of marlin
Irvine from the shak line up to the
steam whistle, leaving it for the
man eater himself to announce the
event of his being hooked by sound
ing a toot.
The Indians of this districe are of
a physique considerably superior to
those of the mainland of Mexico and
and the Colorado river delte country,
but still far inferior to: the magnif-
cent Seri of Tiburon Island, whom
they resemble slightly. Unlike most
Of their bretheren of lower California
they live largely by hunting and fish
ing, and poy little attention to ag-
ricultural pursuits. Their original
weapon was the bow, which they
still handle with great proficiency,
but in the last decade or two num-
Der of old rifles have fallen into
their hands, and upon these they now
place most of their dependence in
hunting. They are poor shots but
wonderful stalkers, and an Indian
with ammunition never goes hungry.
Water fowl of many varieties are
very numerous about the bay, and the
duck shooting along the shore is no
whit inferior to the quail shooting
ten miles inland. Pelican shooting
also affords no little sport, besides
! furnishing the officers with most
unique souvenirs in the form of
robes made by sewing together the
| skin of the breasts of numbtr OF
these great birds. The pelican is
| one of the most tenaciously feathered
| birds known to natural history, and
one of these robes, besides being very
beautiful, is practically indestructa
| BILE in the course of ordinary wear
They may be bought from the Indians
but as those so obtained are invaria
| bly, filthy beyond description, there Is
practically nozother course open fol
the would lbe possessor but to xii
| his own birdie. AS it rarely possible
enough for shotgun to be uset
effectively, they must be killed ont
4 by one with a rifle, feat which re
quires DO little skill with that weap
on. A. prime pelican robe is worth
| 500 to 5000, according to it's size
the value being usually computed a
the rate of about a dollar skin.