Trained Pelicans

[TubeDude]

I deck handed on several party boats in so Cal in my earlier years.  A big problem with "fly-lining" live anchovies was having seagulls snarf them.  So we would catch one, bring it in and tie a partially inflated pink balloon to one of its legs and turn it loose.  As it flew off with the purty pink "goodies" all the other gulls would follow...and it would be semi quiet for a few minutes.

For the sea lions, we kept some cherry bombs and M-80 firecrackers.  (Not legal...but necessary)  One of those lit and tossed out with a 3 oz. weight would go off underwater and hurt some poor sea lion eardrums.  Thinned the herd and oh so therapeutic.

Since sea lions became the protected darlings of the tree huggers it greatly effected several California and north coast fisheries.  Anyone who has ever witnessed the wholesale slaughter of returning steelhead and salmon below the upriver dams will not have any love for the marauding sea lions.  And anyone who has paid good money to get on a fishing boat...only to lose every fish they hook...doesn't get the warm fuzzies when discussion those pinnipeds either.  Many of them have learned to follow the sound of the boat engines to their fishing spots...and then to follow them to wherever they go to get away.

How about lining me out on some cherry bomb and M-80s.  Been 50 years since I got any real firecrackers.

Well, that was over 50 years ago too.  We got our "illegal" fireworks by a quick and easy (both ways) crossing the border at Tijuana...in the days before cartels, drugs and the flood of undocumented non-citizens.   Never had car inspections or sniffer dogs on either side in those days.  Nowadays there are 20 lanes of cars backed up for hours and every car and driver gets the CSI treatment.  I miss the olden days.  At least I think I do.  I sometimes don't remember too good.