1936] MAMMALS OF OREGON 333 



G. Jewett, Jr., during their 1926 vacation at the beach, contained 

 only a few pieces that could be reliably referred to this species. 



General habits. California sea lions are generally seen in the surf 

 along shore, or lying on the rocky points or islands. They are won- 

 derful swimmers, graceful and powerful in the water. On the coast 

 near Cape Mendocinp, in northern California, on September 5, 1899, 

 Merriam and the writer sat on the bank above the beach for half an 

 hour admiring a few of these animals sporting in the high running 

 surf, gliding evenly along, often 3 or 4 abreast, on their backs, in the 

 green-walled front of the oncoming breakers. By swimming diago- 

 nally they would keep pace with the waves and so close to the front 

 that while many feet below the surface, they showed as in a glass- 

 fronted aquarium. As one wave broke on the beach they disap- 

 peared to reappear in the front of the next. When tired of this sport 

 they dashed off between the waves, leaping clear of the surface in 

 long graceful arches. 



On the rocks they lie for hours basking in the sun, or sit up bark- 

 ing and yelping in noisy chorus. When it is necessary for them to 

 move they flop and hitch along with great effort. 



Breeding habits. Toward the end of May the old males are said 

 to resort to regular breeding places on rocky islands where they are 

 soon followed by the females. The single pup is born in June and 

 mating takes place about a month later according to Heinroth, who 

 gives the period of gestation as averaging about 11 months. The 

 females remain with the pups, nurse and care for them for a long 

 time until they are able to swim and accompany their mothers in 

 quest of more substantial food. 



Food habits. Evermann reports the stomachs of 13 of these sea 

 lions examined in August 1901 by a special commission appointed 

 for investigation of their food habits as showing small fish in 5 stom- 

 achs and squid in 11 stomachs. * * * " The quantity of fish 

 was trivial, 17 small fish being the maximum, while the remains of 

 100 to 300 squid were found in each of 5 stomachs " (1921a, p. 16) . 

 He further says that, while the investigations of the commission were 

 not sufficiently comprehensive or prolonged to warrant a final deci- 

 sion, they show rather definitely that sea lions cause ver}^ little damage 

 to the fisheries, and the little injury done is caused by Steller's sea 

 lion, the California sea lion being almost entirely guiltless. 



Economic status. Rowley (1929, pp. 1-36), after a full account 

 of distribution, habits, breeding, food, and relation to fishing indus- 

 try, based on years of close study, considers the California sea lions 

 practically harmless to commercial interests and of great value to 

 the State in their general interest to the public. He urges adequate 

 sanctuaries for their preservation and laws to protect them and con- 

 trol their abundance. 



CALLORHINUS ALASCENSIS JORDAN and CLARK 

 NORTHERN FUR SEAL 



CallorhinuiS alascensis Jordan and Clark, The Fur Seals and Fur Seal Islands 

 of the North Pacific, pt. 3, p. 2, 1899. 



Tl/pe locality. Pribilof Islands, Alaska. 



General characters. Adult males large; females about one-fifth the size of 

 males; neck long and in old bulls large; ears small and pointed; front feet 



