256 CHANNEL ISLANDS OF CALIFORNIA 



over, and towed to the boxes, into which they are 

 placed. Later they are hoisted aboard the launch and 

 carried to Santa Barbara, from which place they are 

 shipped to museums or zoological gardens all over the 

 world. 



The greatest complaint against sea-lions comes from 

 fishermen, who say that they visit their nets or seines 

 and take out the fish. I have observed this myself. 

 A sea-lion stationed itself near a net in the kelp, and 

 every few minutes plunged down, and swam along the 

 net, biting off the body of every fish that became 

 gilled. This was done despite the fact that I was 

 near in a boat, as was also the Italian owner of the 

 net. He hurled imprecations at the sea-lion when it 

 came up with a big rock bass and deliberately tossed 

 it in air, as if to irritate the fisherman, who, while 

 robbed in the grossest manner, was prevented by law 

 from shooting the robber. 



The rookery at Seal Rocks, on the east end of the 

 island of Santa Catalina, is the best known and most 

 available. Thousands visit the rookery and photo- 

 graph the sea-lions. In the spring the females and 

 young can be seen on the beach, the young learning 

 to swim in the shallows; but they are desperately 

 afraid of the water at first. 



Nearly all the islands have these rookeries. A 

 Basque hermit on San Nicolas told me that he was 

 terrified by their roars at times. The sea-lions at these 

 islands are protected and are increasing. In former 

 years what is known as Cabrillo and Catalina Harbor 

 — a land-locked bay — was the home of a large herd of 

 sea elephants, which were doubtless exterminated by 

 Captain Scammon and his men. It is very doubtful 



