CAREER OF LYTTELTON SEA LION NOW ENDED

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 12

CAREER OF LYTTELTON SEA LION NOW ENDED

The career of Lyttelton’s mischievous sea lion Dennis the Menace ended yesterday. He was captured in a rope cargo net on Miller’s slip and towed out to sea. Most Lyttelton residents are more sad than glad about the fate of Dennis—or Sammy as he was sometimes called during his eight months stay on the waterfront. For more than two hours Dennis defied attempts by Fisheries Department and Harbour Board men to net him yesterday. He was wary after escaping the previous day from the same net on their way to the moles. Yesterday morning with Dennis basking on the slip, the district inspector

of fisheries (Mr F. Bennington) and his men tiought they were in for an easy jo). but at the sight of the net Dennis slipped off into the water. When he returned half an hour later onlookers tad a hilarious two hours. They laugted while Mr Bennington and his hslpers skipped with the nimbleness of ballet dancers when Dennis lumbered towards them during attempts to pet and prod him into the net. “That’s tie stuff. Sammy, you won that round" shouted the onlookers each time Dennis playful’. • evaded enticements into the net. He showed no malice throughout and only barked complaininiiy when ropes were tied under his tippers. The laugling crowd grew silent at Dennis’s gmnts. when he was finally secured in the net. He weighs more than 10001 b and five men could not drag him d»wn the slip to the water’s edge. The lympathetic crowd showed greater pltfsure when the Harbour Board’s plot launch temporarily went aground while standing by to tow him of into the water. Mr Bennfogton said Dennis nearly got free frrtn the net on the way out and forced his head and tail through the mesh. ‘We had quite a job cutting him frte at the finish.” Mr Bennington said. Dennis showed terrific strength wlile struggling in the water and dived deep in the wake of the powerful launch. Cambell Island Telegram At the Empire Hotel, Lyttelton, where he is head barman, the Mayor of Lytteltoi (Mr F. G. Briggs) said: “Most of the residents feel a bit concerned an! sad about it all.” He showed a telegram from Campbell Island receded yesterday which read: “Mayor of lyttelton, I have heard with concern of sea-lion going berserk in harbour stfP fear this may be sealion deporlSd from here for similar I offences. P 56.” The signature was ’ “Cres,” Caflpbell Island. Mr Bennngton said: “The pattern of seal behiviour is always the same, they are n®de a fuss of and finally become a itiisance. Then the Marine Department is called in to do the job of getting lid of them. This is sometimes diffidlt because they are very clever at Aiding their way back again. This one v*ll not.” | “Could y>u tow him out dead?” a , member #ked the harbourmaster ; (Captain A R. Champion) at a meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board 1 yesterday Horning. “The putfic may see him shot and it would be better to have him shot outside theheads.” Captain Champion I, replied. “That is a protected animal." said Mr F. E. futton. “I do not think we 1 will see miCh of it in the near future.” 1 1