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Show SEA LION FISHING IS EXCITING SPORT. Business of Catching Good Specimens Is Hazardous, But Pys Veil Creatures Are Shy and Cunning, A considerable business is done on the Pacific coast and on the islands adjacent In the catching of sea lions. The creatures are in great demand for menageries and good specimens command com-mand high prices all the year round. American fishermen are noted the world around for their daring, and the whaling and sword-fishlng off the United States coast have furnished material for many thrilling narratives. But fishing for sea lions if it can he called fishing is no less daring than the forms of fishing mentioned, and more remarkable because it Is unique. The "fishing" of sea lions is chiefly done off the many islands that lie near the California coast of Santa Barbara county. The animals are plentiful there, and while they have no commercial value as food or oil producers, ther are always salable to menageries and parks. Of course, to be of use. they must be taken alive and uninjured. This Is what makes the work of taking them perilous and exciting. It is practically prac-tically Impossible to capture them while they lie on the shore, for they are so shy and cunning that they select only such rocks and ledges as are not approachable by man except from the sea. And, of course, the moment a boat comes in sight the big animals slide into the water and swim away. So the only way to capture them is to catch them while they are In the water. And as they are so quick and haunt such dangerous parts of the coast, it is not possible to hunt them with large vessels, and the "fishermen'' must risk themselves in small open boats. They try to row in swiftly enough to reach the water near the shore at about the same moment that the sea lions are sliding into it to swim off. If the boats succeed in getting among them the men in the bows try to throw a lasso around their necks before be-fore they dive. This in itself is not easy. And added add-ed to it is the fact that the sea Hons are fierce and brave animals that will fight to the end. Therefore, after one is lassoed he battles savagely, sav-agely, and many a boat has been over turned and smashed, while men art d i owned and often bitten to death bj t ie great beasts, some of which weigh at- much as i 200 pounds. |