B. C. SEA-LION INVESTIGATION 27 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



Part II. 



REPORT AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE SEA-LION INVESTIGATION, 1916. 



In order to ascertain the effect upon the sea-lion population of the bounty of $2 

 per head which was placed upon them early in the year 1915, and the desirability or 

 otherwise of continuing it, the commission appointed by the Biological Board of 

 Canada considered it advisable: (1) to procure the number of individuals killed in 

 order to obtain the bounty, (2) to visit the rookeries in order to make an estimate of 

 the number of sea-lions still remaining in the province (3) to visit all localities from 

 which complaints had been sent of depredations by these animals, and (4) to inves- 

 tigate, as far as possible, the nature of the food of the sea-lions, as grave doubts had 

 been expressed by well-known men of science as to whether food fish formed any part 

 of their diet, some authorities even stating that their principal food consisted of 

 animals which are enemies of fish used by man. 



The lateness of the season when the commissioners were first able to commence 

 their labours and the unsuitability of the valuable government vessel for approaching 

 the rookeries placs-d at their disposal, prevented them from completing the programme 

 thus sketched. The number of sea-lions killed was obtained with approximate accu- 

 racy; a great deal of information was procured from the various fishing stations as to 

 the damage done by them during the fishing season and a beginning was made in the 

 line of inquiry as to whether sea-lions do or do not eat food fish at one of the points 

 at which complaint was made of their interference and destructive habits. 



The rookeries, however, were not adequately examined, nor had the commissioners 

 any opportunity of personally investigating the food question at Elvers inlet, one of 

 the most important salmon fisheries on the coast and one from which the most urgent 

 complaints of damage had emanated, and also that one in the neighbourhood of which 

 by far the greatest number of sea-lions, pups and adults, had been slaughtered early 

 ' in 1915. 



It was therefore pointed out by the commissioners in their report for 1915 that 

 it was their opinion that, with the object of completing the task originally proposed 

 by them, their work should be resumed in 1916 early enough to be on Elvers inlet 

 fishing ground during part of the salmon season and also in time to visit the rookeries 

 when the sea-lions were assembled to bear their young, in order to be able to make 

 as accurate an estimate of their numbers as possible. 



The lack of facilities for communication with Elvers inlet made it difficult to 

 decide on the most suitable time to visit this locality. The regular mail service and 

 the telegraph and telephone communication made it an easy matter to get data as to 

 conditions at Barkley sound, but at Elvers inlet telegraph and telephone communica- 

 tion is lacking and mail arrives but once a week. 



From reports already received the commission was led to believe that sea-lion 

 depredation occurred both before and after the pupping season in early June. Since 

 it was desirable to get as full information as possible as to the numbers of sea-lions 

 at the different rookeries, it seemed possible that this could be obtained during the 

 trip in which the Elvers inlet question was to be considered. 



For the twofold purpose especially, a 45-foot motor launch, the Emoh, was char- 

 tered, with Captain Massey commanding. Leaving Vancouver on June 21 and 

 Departure Bay the following morning, a start was made for Elvers inlet, and 



