The BitterEnd Manatees and Mythatees By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill
S
orry about that title. It’s early in the morning and gators don’t think well this early. I just returned from a whirlwind trip through the Sunshine State on a wintertime adventure. As we’ve moved into the new year and find ourselves still in the clutches of this global chaos, I had to get some space to breathe. Safely of course. So, I took a trip down to Citrus County Fla., and no, it wasn’t to gather oranges or any citruses for that matter. Rather, it was in search of mermaids and sirens. These magnificent creatures do indeed exist, however, today we classify them as manatees (sorry ladies, not womanatees). Citrus County, or more precisely Homosassa/Crystal River, in and around the Three Sisters Springs area hosts the largest winter gathering of manatees in America. With nearly six thousand of these splendid creatures, also known as sea cows, in Florida and it’s estimated that between 25 to 33 percent can be found in this county on the Gulf Coast. Although the Three Sisters Springs tour facility was not operating when I visted, the day was warm and most of the aquatic mammals had ventured out of the warmth of the springs to play in the nearby bays of the Gulf. I was staying in Homosassa, so did a quick re-route and was off to the Ellie Schiller Wildlife State Park to see what I could see. I was not disappointed. OK, I was mildly disappointed in that the underwater glass observatory that would allow you to be at eye level with our watery friends was closed due to health and safety concerns, but most of rest of the venue was open and did not disappoint. I won’t going into a great dissertation about manatees, but I will give you a nice overview and some cursory information. First, the West Indian manatee is what you will generally find here in the U.S. There are also the Amazonian, and West African species. Steller’s sea cows, home to waters of the Bering Strait, were hunted to extinction in the late 1700’s. Some would even say there’s a species known as a dwarf manatee, though it’s debated that these are just smaller versions of the three primary species. There are myths aplenty surrounding sea cows. One urban legend suggests that they were brought here as a food source by early Spanish explorers. This has proven to be untrue as there are fossil records of manatees in Florida waters some 3 million years ago. Most likely these adept swimmers have been island hopping for generations. Then you have the ever-present myth that these creatures were mistaken for mermaids. This one actually has some merit and can be traced back to Christopher Columbus whose journal makes mention of such a creature, but it most likely was a manatee. Mermaid myths go back to the Assyrians, circa 1000 B.C. The Greeks also described sirens and mermaids, two entirely different beings, as early as around 200 to 300 B.C. I have spent a great deal of my life around the ocean. During
Manatees and a Gator disguised as a manatee. Photos by Sandy Ockinga
that time I’ve previously been known to occasionally have a few too many drinks, but I have never been drunk enough to mistake a sea cow for Ariel. Although, as I mentioned earlier the Spanish did not bring them here as food, manatees have been known to show up on the menu. First Nations peoples, such as the Seminoles and various tribes within their Nation have indeed used this animal as both part of their diet and in spiritual context. Later, during the Great Depression, they were used as food in much the same way as terrestrial cattle; due to their primary diet their meat is quite lean, red in color and similar in texture to beef. As a side note the tail was considered the primo selection. I would remind you carnivores out there that manatees are protected by the Marine Mammals Act, and as such, you could be fined up to $100,000 and serve time in jail. Better to stick with beef. If you are looking for a quick and fun getaway, a mere four hours away awaits the magical kingdom of the manatee. As always, peace and love, shrimp and grits … I'll see you on the water!
Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com
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Southern Tides Magazine
February 2021
