EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 115 



The Treasury Department made a favorable response to this request, 

 and steps were taken to begin the inquiry at once. Mr. Cloudsley 

 Ruttcr, .scientific assistant of the Commission, was placed in charge 

 of the investigation; and the California board of lish commissioners 

 and the California Academy of Sciences were asked to nominate rep- 

 resentatives to cooperate with Mr. Ruttcr. In accordance with this 

 invitation, Mr. Robert K. Snodgrass was named by the California 

 Fish Commission and Mr, Edwin C. Starks b}^ the California Academy 

 of Sciences. The instructions issued for the conduct of the investiga- 

 tion called for a consideration of the following subjects: The species 

 of sea lions on the California coast, their characteristics, size, distribu- 

 tion, and general habits; the number and location of the rookeries, 

 and the number of sea lions resorting to each rookery; the food and 

 feeding habits of sea lions, in salt and fresh water, at all seasons; the 

 times and places of the appearance of sea lions in fresh water; the 

 damage to fishing apparatus occasioned by sea lions. 



The inquiries were begun July 10 in Half-moon Ba}^, San Mateo 

 Count}^, about 18 miles south of the Golden Gate. Here Pillar Point 

 and vicinity and the Purissima rooker}^ were visited. This is the only 

 rookery where accurate count of the sea lions can be made, and it was 

 kept under observation throughout the year, semimonthly records being 

 made. From the 13th to the 16th of July the rookery at Ano Nuevo 

 (about midway from Half -moon Bay to Monterey Bay) was under obser- 

 vation, and a number of sea lions were here killed. This is the only 

 rookery which can be visited except during the most favorable weather, 

 and is well suited for the study of feeding and breeding habits. 



After leaving Ano Nuevo the part}^ divided, Mr. Rutter going- 

 north and Messrs. Snodgrass and Starks south. The latter visited 

 Santa Cruz Island, where a number of specimens were obtained, and 

 also other islands of the vicinity, all the rookeries being located with 

 the aid of seal hunters, although most of the rookeries were deserted 

 at that time. Early in August the rookeries near San Pedro were 

 inspected, and later the fishing stations farther south were visited and 

 the fishermen and seal hunters were interviewed. The inquiries were 

 brought to a close b}^ second visits to the Purissima and Ano Nuevo 

 rookeries, August 26 to September 1. 



Mr. Rutter spent a week at the Farallone Islands, but was unable to 

 reach the rookeries owing to rough weather, and a later attempt was 

 also unsuccessful. At Point Arena four sea lions were killed and 

 examined. Some time was then spent at the mouth of the Columbia 

 River, where sea lions were under observation from fishing scows and 

 the jetty, and many persons interested in the fishing industry were 

 interviewed. Rough water prevented a visit to the Tillamook rookery. 

 After visiting various points on Puget Sound and Straits of Fuca, Mr. 

 Rutter joined the other members of the party at San Francisco. 



