290 Life in the Open 



myriads of these animals, but they have been gradually 

 decimated; driven from pillar to post, until the great 

 rookeries are reduced to a few. Fifty years ago, at 

 what is known asCatalina Harbour, there was a herd of 

 sea-elephants, animals doomed to extinction, but they 

 were so tame, and at that time so valuable for their oil, 

 that they were mercilessly destroyed, and to-day it is 

 very doubtful if a single sea-elephant could be found on 

 the western coast of the United States, the last few 

 specimens having been killed off in Lower California 

 during the past five years. 



On the island of Santa Catalina the sea-lions have 

 been protected, and on the south end of the island 

 is the finest rookery known, when the tameness of the 

 animals is considered, as they permit visitors to approach 

 within a few feet of the rocks and photograph them. 

 The bulls here are of large size, and they have recently 

 divided and formed a rookery near Long Point, on 

 what is known as White Rock. These lions are several 

 times as large as a common seal, and while the latter 

 has a short neck, that of the former is long and 

 snake-like, and the animal has a ferocious mien. 

 The big mouth is filled with sharp teeth, the 

 animals being very active, appearing like huge black 

 slugs. 



The sea-lions go ashore in June, and the young 

 soon appear on the sands at the base of the great 

 coloured cliffs, taking to the water when approached, but 

 easily tamed. At this time the entire herd leave the 



