THE NATURALIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 48

THE NATURALIST.

PETS IN THE SEA.

(0. F. Holder, in the Outlook, U.S.)

During a vißit to one of the islands off the ! coast of southern California I found that the i fishermen were in the habit of feeding certain wild animals, which in time became so tame that strangers might almost think they were domesticated. The fishermen fed the gulls every morning when cleaning their lisb, gome of the birds becoming bo friendly that they allowed the men to touoh them, while others followed them out to sea, alighting on tbeir boats, and exhibiting remarkable confidence. Among the animals which frequently came into the little bay to feed I was a large seal. It sometimes followed | fishing boats in, and once, when rowsof fish were hung, up to be photographed by their fortunate captor 3, it raised iss head high oub of the water, apparently eyeing the fish so eagerly that the boatman gave it a share. The fishermen usually went gill fishing late in the afternoon, and the seal, perhaps conceiving that the whole operation was for its 'benefit, began, to accompany them ; and as soon as a fish became' entangled it woulddive down and take it out of the net, returning to the surface to toss it in the air in high glee before the eyes of tha fishermen. "" In tfais way the seal robbed the nets', "growing bolder and bolder. At last, one, day' when one of the fishermen had returned from the banks and was washing bis catch from a boat not far from the spot where the writer stood, Bplashing the big red fish to and f ro, [ suddenly a large black form darted up from | below, two black eyes looked at the amazed i fisherman for a moment, and then the seal snatched the fish from his hauds, and swam away amid the shouts of laughter from the lookers-on. A few days later, presumably the same seal appeared off the wharf where several anglers were fishing, and deftly carried off their bait without being hooked. In the latter sport the seal was joined by a s black diver — a bird with a long, rmakeiike* neck and pointed bill — which was as ranch at home beneath the water as above, and which watched the fishermen with esger glance. The moment the bait Btruck the water tbe bird plunged beneath the surface and si'izsd it. Finally in was hooked and hauled ashore— an operation that did aob prevant ib, on being released, from renewiog the pilfering on the following day.

A fisherman on the Maine coast ones cla.iraad to own a remarkable pet, though it must be confessed that the question oE proprietorship was open to doubt. The man was in the habit of fisbiifg abouc 10 miles off shore on what, was known as the cod banks, and often took fish ot little use, which hs tossed over. One day he noticed a tunny playiag about the boat, and tossing a dog- • fiah at it, hewas surprised to ccc the big fish turn and seize it. Wishing to see how oear the fish woulel approach, he threw another, bricging the tunny within a few fest of him. On another di>y be , saw what he assumed was tbe samo fish in the same locality, and fed it again, repeating the act until the fish displayed no fear, and finally approached to the very side of the boat. The writer once bad a number of singular pet 3 in the guise of loggerhead .turtles. Ha had led an expedition to capture them on Loggerhead Key, about 70 miles from Cuba — a locality somewhat remarkable for tbe animals — and gradually they had accumulated until nearly a dozen were living in an enclosure about 60ft wide and an eighth of a mile long, into which the sea water flowed freely. It was j desirable to learn whether the turtles were I susceptible to the taming process ; so a system of education was begun that was fruitful of some exciting episodes. The j turtles, when not feeding, lay at the bottom in water Bft or 10ft deep, their huge bodies • plainly outlined against the aand. Hera j they undoubtedly slept or dozed, and it was comparatively an easy matter to swim down and grasp them from behind by the back of the shell just over the head. The moment the turtle felt the grasp it bounded to ths surface and took a long breath, then dived again, dragging the rider along at a rapid pace, now under water, again at the surface, endeavouring in vain to shake off by desperate plunges the enemy, who, like the old man of the sea, cluDg closely to its back. If the turtle had been left to its own devices, it would soon have escaped ; but, by placing the knees upon its back, enough resistance was brought into play to force it to the surface, and after a number of rashes up and down the enclosure it was reduced to submission. This experiment was tried many times with a view to domesticating ths huge loggerheads, who finally apparently submitted with some degree of grace to the daily exercise, and would gather at one end of. the enclosure to be fed. The strength of these reptiles was marvellous. Not only could one of the largest size tow a man through the water and beneath it, but when two were fastened in a rnde canvas harnessand attached to a flat boat they towed it around for an indefinite period ; and when the first fright was overcome, they swam along nonchalantly, as though they rather enjoyed it. ~