250 The Under-Water World 



Mexico. In 1892 the species was in fact 

 recorded as probably extinct. In 1911, 

 however, the American survey ship 

 Alabatros discovered a herd of 125 on 

 the island of Guadaloupe, and a few young 

 specimens were shipped to various Zoos. 

 A big male elephant seal may measure 

 twenty-two feet in length, but females 

 are only half this size. In these days, 

 sea elephants, except in certain hunting 

 areas, seldom come into contact with 

 humans, and it is interesting to learn 

 that the sea elephants discovered by the 

 Alabatros Expedition had to be treated 

 somewhat roughly before they would 

 " clear the gangway " and make room 

 for the explorers with their movie cameras 

 and other apparatus to pass through 

 their ranks. The huge males were 

 covered with festering sores from past 

 fights, and elders who had seen many 

 years of conflict had the skin of their 

 breasts and necks almost bare. Like the 



