30 



DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVAL SERVICE 



8 GEORGE V, A. 1918 



These were 150 miles from the nearest known rookery. They disappeared into the 

 water while the boat was still at long range, but they appeared to be of good size. 

 They could hardly be breeding adults so far away from a rookery, and there were 

 no pups on the rocks. They were probably bachelor males, such as were seen and 

 examined on Watch rock in the Sea Otter group. 



Hecate strait was crossed on July 11, and cape St. James reached on July 13. 

 Here again the day was fine and the sea smooth, with the exception of a certain amount 

 of swell. Thus near approach was possible, and some photographs were obtained (see 

 figs. 30-33), but no attempt was made to land. There were only about 1,000 sea-lions 

 on the rocks, and the pups could not readily be distinguished from the other mem- 

 bers of the herd. Individuals in the water were seen as far away as Scudder point, 

 25 miles distant from the rookery. 



On the return. Rivers inlet was reached on July 17. 



18. A COMPARISON OF THE ENUMERATIONS OF 1913 AND 1914. 



While the rookeries are still under consideration, it is well to compare the 

 enumeration here made with that made by Dr. C. F. Newcombe and W. A. Newcombe 

 in lOlS'^. A table of comparison will serve as a basis for bringing out special points. 



Rookery. 



Cape St. .Tames. 



Sea Ottei' group- 

 Pearl rocks . . . 

 WatcVi rucks 

 Virgin rocks. . 



Cape Scott group- 

 '1 riangle island . 

 East Haycocks 



Solander island . . . 



1913. 



Date. 



June 12, 13. 



.Tune 21, 22. 



•June 22 



Aug. 28, 29, 

 Sept. 2. . 



July 15, 19.. 

 Aug. 17, 25. 

 July 20.... 



Number. 



2,000 



1.350 

 112 



2,300 



300 



3,200 



None seen. 



1916. 



Date. 



.Tulyl3 



June 25 



■Tune 25 



.Tune 25 



None breeding. 



June 26 



.lune 27 



Number. 



1,000 



250 

 3 



2,500 



6,000 

 500 



To this should possibly be added about thirty-five, which were seen by the com- 

 missioners off Hope island, September 3 and 4, 1915, where it may be, as the Nawhitti 

 Indians aver, there is a small rookery. This was not visited either in 1913 or 1916. 



There is little difference in the total estimate in the two cases, but a comparison 

 of the individual rookeries bears out the statement made in the earlier report that to 

 get the extent of the whole sea lion population, the number seen on the rookeries must 

 be increased by an unknown number representing those in the water at the same 

 time. 



Taking the cape St. James rookery in the first place, if the whole 1913 herd was 

 on the rocks when Dr. Newcombe made the enumeration and the whole 1916 herd was 

 on the rock when the commissioners made the enumeration, there is no accounting 

 for the reduction of the numbers as no raids Avere made on the rookery for the bounty 

 in 1915 and very few were killed that could have belonged to the herd. The discrepancy 

 is even greater than would appear from the above figures. The 1913 enumeration was 

 made on June 12-' and 13, when, as was stated in the report, but few pups had been 

 born. In 1916 the enumeration was made a month later, when the pups of the year 

 would not only all be born, but all able to take to the water. To make a more correct 



1 Provincial Fisheries Department's Report, British Columbia, 1913, pp. R131-R145, with 

 16 plates. 



