B. C. SEA-LION INyESTIGATION 11 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



Dr. Townshend also sent, at the same time, a copy of the Bulletin 'No. 29, of the 

 Zoological Society of New York, for April, 1008. This contains an interesting article 

 by Dr. Townshend entitled " An Inquisitive Sea-lion," describing the behaviour of 

 a young specimen of Zalophus calif ornianus, which was attracted to the Albatross 

 while at anchor one evening at Port Townshend, by the barking of a setter dog. It 

 spent the night in the ship's dinghy, and Dr. Townshend was able to make a very 

 successful photograph of it before it grew dark. The photograph is reproduced on 

 page 412. 



Further information of similar bearing was obtained from Prof. Trevor Kin- 

 caid, of the University of Washington. At the Alaska-Yukon-Pacitic Exposition, 

 held in Seattle in 1909, two animals were included in one of the exhibits, as fur 

 seals. Prof. Kincaid was asked to examine them, as there was much doubt as to the 

 correctness of this designation. Both of them were found to belong to the California 

 species of sea-lion, and those in charge of them stated that they had been taken in the 

 salmon traps at New Dungeness, not far from the entrance to Pugot sound. After 

 the close of the exposition the two animals were moved to the zoological collection at 

 Woodland park, Seattle, still labelled as Alaska fur seals. A visit was made by a 

 member of this commission to the Zoological Garden mentioned, and the caretaker 

 was interviewed with little result. The animals in question had died soon after their 

 arrival at Woodland park. 



In December, 1915, Indians employed in hunting for the commission, stated that 

 the second kind of sea-lions was well known in Barkley sound as the black or barking 

 kind, but these only pass in as far as Alberni canal very seldom. The last one that 

 was recalled had been killed off Nahmint about five years ago. 



5. THE SEA-LION QUESTIOX AS IT AFFECTS BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



At the preliminary meeting of the commission in August a decision was reached 

 as to two main methods of seeking information on the sea-lion question. The one 

 was to make a trip along the coast to get personal information if possible, although 

 little was expected on account of the lateness of the season, and failing this, or sup- 

 plementing this, to get information from those who claimed to have firsthand know- 

 ledge concerning the habits and food of the sea-lions as well as the nature and extent 

 of their depredations. The other was to obtain information by correspondence with 

 cannery managers, fishery ofiicers and others interested or likely to be able to furnish 

 such. 



In connection with the former of these, the Department of the Naval Service 

 kindly put at the disposal of the commission, for three weeks, the steamer Malaspina, 

 Captain Holmes Newcomb commanding. The commission is under no little obligation 

 to Captain Newcomb, his officers and crew for the courtesy shown during the trip. 



On August 30 the Malaspina^ with Drs. Newcombe and Fraser on board, started 

 northward. The attempt to visit all of the rookeries along the coast had to be given 

 up through lack of time, partly due to delay by smoke and fog, and by waiting for 

 a chance to coal at Prince Rupert. The Cape St. James rookery was not visited, nor 

 \.as that on the Cape Scott group of islands ; three attempts to get out to the Haycocks 

 and Triangle islands all failed on acount of foggy and heavy weather. The rookery 

 or., the Sea Otter group was visited, where there were sea-lions visible, but on account 

 of the dangerous reefs in the vicinity, it was not possible to get close enough with 

 so large a boat to make an estimate of the nvimber, and the swell was too heavy to 

 attempt it with a small boat. A small rookery at the west end of Hope island was 

 visited, and here the only attempts made to capture sea-lions proved abortive. On two 

 mornings in succession Indian hunters, hired for the purpose, tried to shoot and spear 

 one or more of the herd of forty or fifty that were visible in the surf, but without 



