Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-02-10


danger OF being washed away. The
Beach is smooth and so nearly level
that a distance Of 1000 fest from
shore the water is only two or three
feet deep. From the top of these der
rleks the hunters pick of the wary sea
otter, and il is not an unusual thing for
one to shoot and kill his game at 4
distance of 1000 yards. But though
these hunters are excellent riflemen,
ana. their weapons are the very best.
they may shoot Il hundred times with
out killing a single otter, so that in
addition to being good shots they must
possess unusual patience. In spite Of
the apparent lack of liveliness in the
pursuit, the sport is most attractive
one and the hunter that once gets INFO
1t seldom abandons il.
In the locality mentioned these der
rickS form conspicuous feature of
the coast scenery and are scattered
from two to four miles apart. Two of
these lookouts have been I'D a long
time. One is built on the tops Of two
tall trees on the bank and the other
is on rock some distance out, the
little cabin on top being reached by a
rude ladder built OF short pieces OF
driitwood tied together. Severe storms
blow the derrickS on the sand down
every winter, but they are easily re-
built, as there are great quantities
OF driftwood handy and mo lack of
standing timber within a few rods of
the breakers. Usually two hunters
build derrick together and share its
use.
These are forty feet high and at the
base are twenty-four feet wide. On
one OF the poles a rude ladder is built,
and the three poles are braccd to-
gether by cross pieces nailed on at diff
ferent points. Upon the top of the
apex is built box, nearly as high as
a mans head, open at the top and
partially open on the Side toward The
sea. The end of the poles are saw
ed off and a board is nailed on top.
making a seat for the hunter, who
sits in this wind-protected coop, and,
with his rifle resting on the edge of
the box in front Of him, waits ard
watches for the game.
He learns the habits of the sea otter,
and can tell by the wind and the tide
and the currents where TO look for
the first appearance of the stubby little
head above the water,
Not one sea otter in a dozen sinks
when it is killed by bullet, and the
next flood tide throws the carcass on
the beach. When number of hunters
are shooting each one marks his bull
lets, SO that the owner may be known
when the animal is found. The hun
tiers have faith in each other and would
not think of taking skins that did not
belong to them. The Indians going
up and down the beach are employed
by some of the hunters to look on,
for their expected carcasses. If they
find the dead animals easily they are
allowed a small sum enough to pay
for their time and labor.
/ If, for some reason, an animal that
has been shot fails to come in when
or where it is expected, and a whole
day has gone by in fruitless search,
then the Indian who finds it is given
$40; two days after the Indian gets
$50 for bringing it in, and if week
elapses from the time the hunter
shoots sea otter to the time it is
found, he gives half its value to the
Indian, nor he has nearly despairei OF
ever seeing it.
A full-grown sea otter is from four
to five feet long, and perhaps a foo;
or more wide. When a hunter Sc
cures one he loosens the hide fros
the nose and head, and without cutting
it lengthwise at all he pulls the Skin
down over the body, the hide being
so elastic that this is not a difficult,
job. . 1t is then stretched over a smooth
board six and one-half feet long, nine
inches wide at one end and ten at the
other end. Each end of this board is
tapered to a point. Another board
exactly the same size is inserted, and
the skin is stretched foot or eighteen
inches longer than its original length
A thin board, half the length OF the
others, is wedged in and the skin light
iy tackled at the ends to hold It in
place. II any flesh adheres to the
skin it is then cut off, and the hide is
cured and dried in this condition. In
few days it is taken off the boards
and turned fur side out, when it is