MAMMALS. 267 



Formerly tliey were abundant all along the Aleutian chain. They are now so scarce among 

 these islands, and the ones that are found there frequent places so difficult of access, that the 

 Aleuts secure very few of them each year. They are still rather common at a few points along the 

 north shore of Unimak Island and the peninsula of Aliaska, while small iiarties are found scat- 

 tered all along the Aleutian chain, hauling up on certain rocky points and shelves facing the sea, 

 most of which are well known localities to the Aleuts. 



In May, 1877, 1 saw a small party on the rocks on the north shore of Akoutau, and during the 

 same month a fierce storm outside brought a few of them into the harbor at Uualaska. Xorth of 

 the Fur Seal Islands they are extremely rare or unknown at present, although I learned from the 

 Eskimo of their occasional occurrence north to the Yukon mouth and about the shore of Xnnevak 

 Island. From the Aleutian Islands eastward and southward they occur all along the coast to 

 California, where their range overlaps that of the southern species. 



Large males of Steller's Sea-lion are from 11 to 12 feet long, according to Mr. Elliott, and 

 weigh about a thousand pounds. The females are much smaller, and weigh about four or five 

 hundred pounds. 



After the annual catch of fur seals is secured on the Seal Islands, a drive of several hundred 

 sea lions is made to procure the skins used iu covering the large native boats or umiaks. A few 

 years ago this drive was made very easily, and an abundance of animals found, but at present they 

 are becoming much fewer, and it is almost or quite impossible to secure the full number. It is 

 probably a matter of but a few years before they will become rare or unknown ujion these islands,^ 

 where they were formerly more numerous than anywhere else. 



Like the fur seal, this auimal is migratory, arriving at its breeding-grounds on the Fur Seal 

 Islands iu May, and the last of them leave there when the severe winter weather begins, about 

 the first of January. Their migration is not so general as that of the fur seal, as some of them 

 are found about the Seal Islauds the entire winter during mild seasons. 



Mr. Elliott claims that the flesh of a young sea-lion is tender, juicy, and something like veal, 

 but becomes rank and tough when the auimal approaches maturity. The same may be said of the 

 flesh of the fur seal. The first of the latter meat I ever ate was at Unalaska, and as there was a 

 flock of sheep there at the time I was entirely deceived, thinking I had been eating mutton until 

 told that it was young fur seal. The meat had the color and flavor of good muttou. 



The natives of the Seal Islauds claim that nearly seventy years ago the sea-lions alone occupied 

 nearly all of the shore liue of Saint George Island, and numbered several hundred thousand 

 individuals. By direction of the Eussians they were driven ofl" repeatedly until they left the 

 place, and the shore was then occupied by fur seals. 



These northern sea-lions have a "deep base growl and a prolonged, steady roar," quite unlike 

 the barking note so characteristic of the southern sea-lion of the California coast. To the natives 

 of the Fur Seal and Aleutian Islands this auimal is of the same value as the walrus is to the Eskimo 

 of the coast to the northward. Its skin, flesh, intestines, bones, sinews, and oil all come into play 

 as food or iu the simple manufactures of the Aleuts. 



Like the fur seal they have a dreaded enemy iu the Killer Whale, which pursues and captures 

 them at sea and about their rocky resorts. The native hunters when at sea frequently see them 

 leaping high out of the water in useless endeavor to escape their pursuers. At such times they say 

 it is dangerous for an umiak or other small boat to be in the vicinity, as the animal, in its terror, 

 will sometimes leap into and wreck the boat. They are huuted with gun and spear in the Aleu- 

 tian Islands, but, like most seals, if shot in the water iu summer they will sink at once, owing to 

 the small amount of fat on them at that season. 



In common with the fur seal, this species has the habit of swallowing stones. Mr. Elliott 

 found stones weighing a pound or two iu their stomachs, and preserved one stomach containing 

 over 10 pounds of such stones. 

 . Iu the Korth the young are brought Ibrth iu June. 



ODOBiENUS OBESUS (111.). Pacific Walrus (Esk. AjivuTc). 



Biograpliiccd notes. — The range of this unwieldy animal does not extend south of the Bering 

 Sea shore of the Aleutian Islands. They are unknown there, except on Unimak, the easternmost of 

 these islands, where they sometimes occur iu winter. Along the adjaceut shore of Bristol Bay, on 



