HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 99 



night hideous with their unceasing bellowing. The 

 skipper, whose presence with us was a literal exemplifica- 

 tion of the satirical adage so often heard among sailors, 

 "Who would not sell a farm and go to sea," declared that 

 when he closed his eyes at night it was hard to believe he 

 was not at home again among his beloved milk-giving 

 beasts. We found the sea lions when on the rock very 

 shy of allowing our approach within range ; but their 

 confidence returned in a great measure when once in the 

 water ; they would rise within twenty yards of the boats 

 and suddenly disappear again, giving few opportunities for a 

 successful shot. We were anxious to secure one, and made 

 many attempts at stalking, but they always seemed to sleep 

 with one eye open. I had a narrow escape one day. 

 Rowing in and out among the huge columnar rocks, 

 which fence part of the coast, we came suddenly upon 

 a huge bull resting upon a rock. As, noiselessly, we 

 steered round a bend of the channel, there was only 

 just sufficient time to back the boat from beneath him 

 and no more, before he dived with a great splash 

 from the rock, just clear of the bow. Another few feet 

 and he must have carried us with him to the bottom, as 

 he looked about twelve feet long and of corresponding 

 girth. The whiskers, which are very stiff and long, are much 

 prized by the Chinese, fetching about three shillings each, 

 the small end inserted into a tiny ivory hand is used for the 

 purpose of counteracting any irritation of the skin ; a China- 

 man would say they are useful for " all the same scratchee." 



The sea lion, Eumetopias Stelleri or Otaria Stelleri, 

 after Steller, who in 1741 accompanied Behring in his first 

 expedition as naturalist, is well-named from its leonine 

 dignity and appearance as well as its colour. 



It is an immense creature, measuring as much as i2ft. or 

 1 3ft. long, with a girth varying from 8ft. to toft., and 

 weighing i2oolb. to I4oolb. The female or cow sea lion 

 is only about 8ft. or gft. in length, but much finer built, 

 weighing only about 4Oolb. to 5oolb. 



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