Appendix D. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



The only important enemy of the fur-seal The kiiier- 



, . wliale. 



known to man is the killer- whale (Orca gladia- 

 tor). These killers visit the islands on their way 

 north about the end of April, and return in Sep- 

 tember. In the fall they hug the shore, keeping 

 in the kelp or moving about the rocks as near in- 

 shore as they find sufficient water to float in. 

 Tliey are sometimes seen in squads circling 

 round and round the islands, catching young 

 pups by dozens. At first the pups are said to 

 pay no attention to the enemy, sometimes swim- 

 ming right into the killer's mouth, but before the 

 end of the season they learn what the presence 

 of the killer means, and rush out of the water 

 and up on the rocks whenever one comes near 

 shore. The killers generally arrive early in 

 September, and remain as long as the pups stay, 

 which is usually until the latter part of Novem- 

 ber. 



391 



