The men in the boat were bundled up in thick clothes. It was early in the morning and the water was relatively calm. The boat was equipped with a strong fishing net, a canvas sling and a creel to lower or hoist the sling. One of the men donned his diving gear while the other used binoculars to search the water. Their partner was sipping coffee.
After an hour's wait, they spotted a dolphin in the distance. It came to the surface of the water to breathe through its blowholes on top of its head. It drew in fresh air and dipped under the waves again. The owner of the boat steered it closer and they started tossing the live fish they had brought along overboard. The bait was kept in a barrel. Soon the surrounding water was teeming with playful bottle-nosed dolphins enjoying a feast.
One of the men went into the water and used the fishing net to fence off a circular area about the size of ten football fields. The other in the wet suit checked every area of the net to ascertain that no dolphins were trapped underneath the surface, otherwise they would drown if they could not get to the surface and breathe. When he saw a dolphin that looked suitable, he spent some time talking and playing with it. Then he put one arm under the dolphin and the other arm over its body and grabbed a pectoral fin in each hand. He guided the immobile dolphin to the boat and hoisted it into the boat in a sling.
Once on board the ship, the dolphin was covered with a damp blanket to protect its delicate skin. From time to time water would be splashed on the blanket. The men captured three dolphins that day. They were taken to a special school that taught dolphins to perform tricks.