B. C. SEA-LION INVESTIGATION 35 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



being killed at and on the rookeries in the Pacific, and besides that a thorough 

 scare being thrown into all the sea-lions frequenting the waters adjacent to 

 Kivers inlet. The sea-lions, always timid, became exceptionally timorous in 

 the presence of man, and shunned rather than sought the fishing areas. This 

 to my mind was due to the hunting of sea-lions induced by the offer of a bounty. 



In the year 1916 the sea-lions were not excessively harmful. They did 

 not bother the fishing operations at Eivers inlet to any great degree, and not 

 at all as they did three years ago. This I attribute to the effect of the hunting 

 under the bounty system, and also to the fact that before the season opened 

 for fishing the sea-lions on the Sea Otter group of rookeries were pretty 

 thoroughly scared by being shot at and in some cases killed by fishermen at 

 Eivers inlet. I think they have lost their voraciousness and courage to appear 

 where man is and where fishing operations are being carried on at Eivers inlet. 



Now I do not think the sea-lions should be killed off as long as they remain 

 as quiet as they did this year, for their hides may still be made use>of for 

 commercial purposes and their carcasses turned into hen food or fertilizer, 

 but I do think that the Federal Government, through the Fisheries Overseer 

 at Eivers inlet, might spend two hundred dollars a year on ammunition to be 

 served out to the fishermen for them to make a scare raid on the Sea Otter 

 group of rookeries every year before the salmon fishing begins, in order to 

 terrorize the sea-lions and make them fearful of man. This would keep them 

 away from the fishing operations throughout the season and protect the fish 

 and the gear of the fishermen. Don't kill off the sea-lions, but strike terror 

 into them. 



If this communication is of any use to you, you are at liberty to do with 

 it as you wish. 



Yours faithfully, 



FEANK INEIG. 

 Vancouver, B.C., 



November 19, 1916. 



There are still large numbers of sea-lions along the British Columbia coast. On the 

 rookeries alone over 10,000 were seen in June and July, 1916. The rookery estimate 

 is not sufficiently accurate as an index of the whole number to show the reduction 

 that took place by the slaughter of 8,000 sea-lions in 1914-15 and to some extent in 

 1913, except in the case of some of the rocks of the Sea Otter group, where extensive 

 diminution was indicated. 



The menace to the fishing industry in Eivers inlet, so much complained of in 

 previous years, had largely disappeared in 1916. 



The Steller sea-lion undoubtedly eats large quantities of food fishes at certain 

 times of the year, but for the remainder of the year there is little or no evidence as 

 to what he does eat. Since it has been shown that fish not used as food as well as 

 squid and devil fish are eaten, he cannot at all times be the epicure that some people 

 would have us believe. Although he requires animal food, it is probable that he will 

 take any kind available in quantity sufficient to satisfy his hunger. It is even 

 possible that in helping to keep down other injurious species de does more good 

 than harm to the fishing industry, provided he can be kept away from the nets or 

 other fishing gear. Eeference has been made to the influence the sea-lion may have 

 on the dogfish question and the dogfish is not the only carnivorous species that is 

 taken as food. 



