B. C. SEA-LION INVESTIGATION 31 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



comparison it would be necessary to add about 500 to the 1913 number for the pups that 

 were born in that year. Unless in the meantime there was an epidemic, or an extensive 

 migration took place, neither of which is probable, the number on the rocks on July 

 13, 1916, did not by any means represent the whole herd. The fact that several were 

 seen at various points even up to 26 miles from the rookery, bears this out. It is 

 even probable that the two bachelor males ( seen on Butterworth rocks belonged 

 to this herd. 



In this connection mention should be made of a conversation which the com- 

 missioners had at Claxton on July 15, with a Haida Indian, Timothy Tait, belonging 

 to the Ninstints tribe, who is recognized by the Haida as the principal owner of the 

 cape St. James rookery. He said that he didn't think the placing of the new light- 

 house on the island of cape St. James had made any difference to the rookery, to 

 which, as usual, he had paid several visits during the year (he had killed a number 

 of sea-lions for food). He said he and his people found scattering pups at all times 

 of the year, although the months of June and July were the most productive. 



Coming next to the Sea Otter group, the only exact comparison of the two years 

 can be made in the case of the Pearl rocks and Watch rock, since the time of the 

 year almost exactly coincides. The large reduction shown in 1916 was to be expected 

 from the number of onslaughts made on this portion of the rookery in the interval. 

 Watch rock, which was a breeding place in 1913, evidently is one no longer. The 

 portion of the rookery on Virgin rocks shows no material difference. Apparently the 

 number killed has not materially decreased the size of the herd, unless, since the 

 1913 count was made over two months later in the year, it is quite possible a smaller 

 percentage of the whole number was on the rocks. 



In the spring of 1892, when J. M. Macoun, C.M.G., was acting on the Behring 

 Sea Commission to make an enumeration of the fur seals, he visited these rocks and 

 some notes in his diary, which he kindly put at the disposal of the cuinmassion, helps 

 out in this comparison. On May 12, writing of the Virgin group, he says: "The 

 largest island was then approached, and, as the sea-lions, by which it was covered, 

 did not take alarm, a careful estimate was made of their numbers. Making allowance 

 for all possible kinds of error, I can safely say, there were 1,500 on the one island, 

 and more than 2,000 in the group." As this estimate was made on May 12, no pups 

 of the year could have been counted. Hence the number, over 2,000, must be com- 

 pared with the number apart from the pups, estimated at 1,500, in 1916. If this 

 indicates anything, it is that, instead of a natural increase, which should be con- 

 siderable in fourteen years, there has been a decided decrease here as on Pearl rocks. 

 The difference of the attitude of the sea-lion towards mankind is striking. After 

 seeing so many exhibitions of timidity in 1916, it is hard for the commissioners to 

 realize that, not so very long since, the sea-lion did not take alarm at the approach 

 of a boat, even at a time distant from the pupping season. 



In the cape Scott group, the reduction in number on Triangle island, noted in 

 1913, has continued to the ultimate conclusion, as now no lions breed on the island. 

 At the East Haycocks, the figures would indicate a great increase in number during 

 <he three years, when, as a matter of fact, there should have been a great decrease, 

 since 2,2i90, from which the muzzles were taken, were killed, besides many that were 

 not retrieved. During the summer of 1913, Mr. Grinnell and his men hunted the 

 eea-lions on and around the Haycocks, until they had secured 500 hides. The sur- 

 prise, therefore, is not that W. A. Newcombe did not see more than he did when he 

 visited this rookery late in August, but that he saw as many as he did, after so much 

 hunting. The large number seen on the rocks in 1916 did not represent the whole 

 herd, since, as has been stated, numerous lions were seen in the water and on the 

 rocks from cape Russell to cape Scott. 



Considering, finally, the Solander island rookery, it will be noted that Dr. New- 

 combe saw none when passing on July 20, and that others passing near the same 



