32 DEPARTMENT OF THE NATAL SERVICE 



8 GEORGE V, A. 1918 



time, notably Captains Gillam and Troup, who took special notice, at Dr. New- 

 combe's request, saw no sign of any, hence it was supposed that it was not a breeding 

 place. Since on June 27 the pups were large enough to take to the water, they are 

 able evidently to feed for themselvs by July 20, and the whole herd was away from 

 the rookery. The majority of them must have been away even on June 27, as there 

 were not nearly so many on the rocks as there were on September 14, 1915, when it 

 was estimated that there were upwards of 1,000 visible. At that time the lions were 

 present both on Solander island proper and the small outlying rock (see fig. 15), while 

 on June 27 they were entirely confined to the outlying rock. 



The number that haunt Barkley sound cannot well be counted here. If they are 

 from a British Columbia rookery, they have probably been counted in with the others, 

 and if, which is more probable, they come from the Jagged islet rookery, off the Wash- 

 ington coast, they cannot properly find a place in this enumeration. 



Summing up the whole matter, although the envimeration in 1913 as well as that 

 in 1916 was as well done as it could be, by making a single visit or few visits to each 

 I'-.okery, there are little data for comparison of the relative numbers in the two years. 

 The estimate on the rookeries is slightly higher in 1916 than in 1913, but that is 

 largely because in the majority of cases the visit was made at a more opportune time. 

 It would not be legitimate to draw the conclusion from the figures that the number 

 of sea-lions was greater in 1916 than in 1913, especially in the face of the fact that 

 S,000 animals had been killed in the intervening period. The only instance where a 

 direct comparison could be made, viz., at Pearl and Watch rocks, there was evidence 

 of a decided diminution. While in round numbers 10,000 fairly well represents these 

 seen on the rocks at the rookeries, there is a large number besides these, possibly even 

 as great a number or greater, scattered over a wide area along the whole coast. 



19. THE RIVERS INLET SITUATION. 



Having finished the examination of the rookeries, the whole attention of the com- 

 mission was turned to the Rivers inlet situation. The return from Queen Charlotte 

 islands on July 17 should have been at the height of the season for sockeye — the 

 special tit— bit for the sea lion — during which time the depredations are most serious. 

 Judging from the number reported in previous years, the commission concluded that 

 there should be no difficulty in getting several sea-lions, shot right in the fishing area, 

 that the stomachs might be examined at a time there would be every chance of seeing 

 the quantity and nature of the food before it would be digested to any extent. 



From the outset, however, the prospects were none too promising. The season 

 was wet and backward, the fish were running low, so that catches were very small. 

 Although sea-lions were reported in the inlet, they were much less numerous than 

 in preceding years, but torn nets and mutilated fish were shown to indicate that they 

 still were doing damage. 



At several canneries along the inlet there were Indians who had hunted fur seals. 

 If any of these could be obtained to shoot and spear the sea-lions, the best results 

 could be expected. Because of the poor season, every available man was required to 

 fish, and it proved no easy matter to get any of them to undertake sea-lion hunting. 

 After some delay, a Sitka Indian, Louis, agreed to try his luck, but no one with 

 experience could be obtained to go with him. The best that could be done was to 

 hire an Indian boy, Jimmie, as boat puller. These two were supplied with a boat 

 from one of the canneries, a rifle, ammunition, and a spear and taken down to where 

 some of the outermost nets in the inlet were drifting, as it was here that the most 

 damage was reported. They were out with the nets on Wednesday and Thursday 

 nights, July 19 and 20 (the lions did not bother in the daytime), while the Emoh 

 was moored at the Goose Bay fishing camp near by. Neither sound nor sight of sea- 

 lion was noticed on either occasion, although the fishermen still reported their presence. 



