B. C. SEA-LIOX INYESTIGATIOy 15 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



On October 25, Mr. Cobb and Drs. Xewcombe and Fraser met the Snohomish at 

 Port Angeles and proceeded to Neah bay, where the night was spent in order to m^ke 

 nn early start in the morning to visit the rookery. In the morning, however, such a 

 storm was raging outside the cape, that visiting the rookery was out of the question. 

 The next day was no better, and hence the visit had to be abandoned. The trip was 

 not entirely in vain notwithstanding, as from the Indians at Neah bay it was learned 

 that the rookery in question is located on the Jagged islets, about nine miles south of 

 the Umatilla reef, or twenty-one miles south of cape Flattery. Judging from some 

 photographic prints of the rookery that were shown, it must be quite a large one. The 

 Indians, too, gave the impression that it was of large size although no definite estimate 

 could be obtained from them. From this rookery the sea-lions come out into the strait 

 of Fuca. haul out on rocks not far from Neah bay, and even come into the bay itself 

 after fish. The Indians here had the same story to tell concerning the eating of 

 halibut, salmon, and herring. 



10. BARKLEY SOUND IXVESTIGATION'. 



In order to obtain more definite information as to the damage done by Steller's 

 sea-lion than that afforded by the statements of white and Indian fishermen, certain 

 arrangements were made with Mr. Martin, manager of the Wallace Fisheries Com- 

 pany at Kildonau, Barkley sound. Mr. Martin courteously afforded every facility at 

 his disposal at the cannery, and the commissioners had such an excellent base of 

 supply provided for them that it was unnecessary to take any camp outfit. 



Two points of special interest were to be taken up. The first was with regard 

 to the interference by sea-lions with the herring fishery in the way of keeping these fish 

 off-shore, or by breaking up the schools; the second was with respect to the statement 

 that they annually devour large quantities of herring. 



In 1915, the sea-lions made their first appearance for the season in Barkley sound 

 on November 1. On the morning of November 3, Dr. Fraser, being provided with 

 a motor-boat and two men from the cannery, was able to visit their hauling-out place 

 on Bird rocks. Small groups were seen from the entrance of Uchucklesit harbour to 

 Bird rocks, and on the rocks there were about sixty, but these fell off into the water 

 before it was possible to get a shot. It was an easy matter to chase small herds, up 

 to ten or twelve, for a long distance, as they kept together well, coming to the sur- 

 face often. Some shots were fired, but as no means of retrieving them were available 

 at the time, no specimen was obtained. Some photographs, indicating their presence, 

 were obtained, but otherwise these do not give much information. Apparently all of 

 these lions were of the Steller species, and there were no small ones in the lot. 



On the following morning, on the way from Kildonan to Port Alberni, small 

 groups of lions were seen at intervals from the mouth of the harbour almost as far 

 as the Canadian Northern construction headquarters. In every locality in which they 

 were seen there was every evidence of herring schools there also. 



From reports received by the chairman early in December, it was learned that 

 sea-lions were in great abundance in nearly all of the numerous inlets branching from 

 the larger waters, known as Barkley sound, and that they were as usual pursuing the 

 herrings, which were then being taken for curing and for bait. As stormy weather 

 then prevailed, causing wrecks and loss of life just outside of the sound, it was thought 

 that a more successful hunt could be made in the more inside waters of Uchucklesit 

 inlet. As Dr. Fraser was out of the province at the time, and Mr. Greenwood's 

 engagements prevented him from taking part in the investigation, the consideration 

 of the food question as far as these Barkley sound sea-lions were concerned was under- 

 taken by Dr. Newcombe alone. 



