262 MAMMALS AND BIRDS OF THE NORTH PACIFIC 



caiifornian The Calif ornian sea-lion (0. gillespii), which inhabits not only the 



Sea-Lion. shores of California, but both sides of the North Pacific, is distinguished 



from the northern sea-lion by its inferior size ; the largest specimens not exceeding 



8 feet in length, including the outstretched flippers. It is further distinguished 



by the head being more arched above the eyes. 



One of the sights for which the traveller visiting San Francisco for the first 

 time is always on the look out are the sea-lions on the Farallone and Santa 

 Barbara Islands. Although some of these animals belong to the northern species, 

 the majority, and the whole of those on Santa Barbara, are referable to the 

 Caiifornian sea-lion. To the inexperienced it is by no means easy to distinguish 

 between the two by their appearance ; but there is such a marked difference in the 

 nature of their cries, that there is no chance of these ever being confounded. The 

 northern sea-lion utters only a deep bass growl and a prolonged steady roar. The 

 Caiifornian species, on the other hand, never roars, but utters a sharp bark, 

 occasionally approaching a howl. 



The late Captain Scammon, writing of his experiences of the sea-lions on 

 Santa Barbara in 1852, says that " at the close of the season — which lasts about 

 three months on the Caiifornian coast — a large majority of the great herds, both 

 male and female, return to the sea, and roam in all directions in quest of food, as 

 but few of them could find sustenance about the waters contiguous to the islands, 

 or points on the mainland, which are their annual resorting places. They live 

 upon fish, molluscs, and sea-fowls, always with the addition of a few pebbles 

 or smooth stones, some of which are a pound in weight." 



Some years ago it was estimated that the total number of sea-lions in the 

 neighbourhood of San Francisco was 25,000, each of which consumed from 10 to 

 ■40 lbs. weight of fish daily. Captain Scammon, in his account, mentions that these 

 seals display extraordinary skill and cunning in the capture of the sea-gulls which 

 form a notable item in their diet. 



Acting on information of this nature, the Fish Commissioners of California 

 have of late years taken steps to largely reduce the numbers of the sea-lions on 

 account of the injury they are supposed to inflict on the salmon-fishery. The Board 

 claim that it is not their intention to exterminate the seals but merely to reduce 

 their numbers — estimated at 30,000 — by one-third. Men have been employed to 

 shoot the sea-lions, of which a considerable number have been already slain ; but 

 the Government lighthouse reserves have been closed against the work of 

 destruction. 



A protest against this slaughter of these animals has been raised by Dr. C. 

 Hart Merriam, who is of opinion that the number of sea-lions on the Caiifornian 

 coast has been greatly overestimated, and that long before the contemplated 10,000 

 were killed there would not be one left alive. 



Not content with merely raising a protest against the destruction of the seals, 

 Dr. Merriam endeavoured to show that they do comparatively little harm to the 

 fishery. " The local fishermen, the State Fish-Commission, and others assert without 

 qualification, that the sea-lions feed extensively on salmon, and the inference from their 

 statements is that the animals subsist chiefly, if not entirely, on fish. A few years 

 ago, when similar complaints were made against the fur-seals, I took the trouble 



