254 CHANNEL ISLANDS OF CALIFORNIA 



at night, basking in the sun on the rocks during the 

 day. As the sun disappears they tumble overboard, 

 and, in parties of from one to ten, start out, often 

 swimming twenty or thirty miles at a rapid rate, and 

 entering the bays, especially those where fishermen 

 make their headquarters. In Avalon Bay the roaring 

 or barking of the sea-lions can sometimes be heard all 

 night, one or more remaining there until all the fish 

 thrown overboard during the day are removed. They 

 are so tame that the fishermen when washing their fish 

 have had their catches snatched from their hands, and 

 they will often follow the men about and steal the 

 bait as fast as it is put on; yet they never seem to 

 appear above water, just bringing the tips of their 

 noses to the surface to breathe. They rarely venture 

 far from shore, in fear of the big orcas and sharks. 



There was a troupe of Santa Cruz sea-lions in this 

 country at one time which performed the most aston- 

 ishing tricks. I saw a group of five or six pass a ball 

 no larger than an orange from one to another, all the 

 time poising it on the tip of the nose. The same was 

 done with a large ball, and when it was missed one of 

 the lions would place his nose beneath it and toss it 

 into the air, and carry it about with perfect ease. 

 All these sea-lions would take burning flambeaus and 

 toss them about with the greatest abandon. 



One rookery at Santa Cruz is virtually beneath a 

 large mountain in a sea cave that extends under the 

 island to an unknown distance. One I found was on 

 a slippery ledge; and when I tried to go ashore the 

 sea-lions came rushing down the rocks, one big bull 

 with mouth wide open, apparently to drive me off; 

 but as I stood my ground (because I was obliged to) 



