TIIK r.M.iroKMA SI.A i.m\ 47 



None but tin- adult males u.-iv captured, which was usually done by shooting them in the 



car or near il : liir a hall in any other part of the ho.l\ had not -e effect Mian il would in a Cri/./ly 



Hear. Occasionally, however, they arc taken with the club and lance, only shooting :i few .,!' the 

 MiaMiTs of the herd. This is easilv accomplished with an experienced crew, if there is sntlicicnt 

 ground back I'roin the lieach for the animals to retreat. During our stay, an instance, occurred, 

 which not only displayed the, sagacity of the animals, but also their yielding disposition, when 

 hard pressed in certain situations, as if naturally designed to be slain in numbers equal to tho 

 demands of their human pursuers. On the south of Santa Barbara Island was a plateau, elevated 

 less than a hundred feet above the sea, stretching to the brink of a cliff that overhung the shore, 

 aii'l a narrow gorge leading up from Mic beach, through which the animals crowded to their favor- 

 ite resting place. As the sun dipped behind the hills, fifty to a hundred males would congregate 

 upon the spot and there remain until the boats were lowered in the morning, when immediately the 

 whole herd would quietly slip ott'into the sea and gambol abuut during the day, returning as they 

 saw the Ixiats again leave tho island for the ship. Several unsuccessful attempts had been made 

 to take them; but at last a fresh breeze commenced blowing directly from the shore, ami prevent* d 

 their scenting the hui.ters, who landed some distance from the rookery, then cautiously advanced, 

 and suddenly yelling, and flourishing muskets, clubs, and lances, rushed up within a few yards of 

 them, while the pleading creatures, with lolling tongues and glaring e.\es, were quite overcome 

 with dismay, and remained nearly motionless. At last, two overgrown males broke through the 

 line formed by the men, but they paid the penalty with their lives before reaching the water. A 

 few moments passed, when all hands moved slowly toward the rookery, which asjdowly retreated. 

 This maneuver is termed 'turning them,' and, when once accomplished, the disheartened creatuies 

 appear to abandon all hope of escape, and resign themselves to their fate. The herd at this time 

 numbered seventy five, which were soon dispatched, by shooting the largest ones, and clubbing 

 and lancing the others, save one young Sea Lion, which was spared to see whether he would make 

 any resistance by being driven over the hills beyond. The poor creature only moved along 

 through the prickly pears that covered the ground when compelled by his cruel pursuers; and. at 

 last, with an imploring look and writhing in pain, it held out its tin-like arms, which were pierced 

 with thorns, in such a manner as to touch the sympathy of the barbarous sealers, who instantly 

 put the sufferer out of its misery by a stroke of a heavy club. As soon as the animal is killed, the 

 longot spires of its whiskers are pulled out, then it is skinned, and its coating of fat cut in sections 

 from its body and transported to the vessel, where, after being 'minced,' the oil is extracted by 

 boiling. The testes are taken out, and, with the selected spires of whiskers, find a market in 

 China the former being used medicinally, and the latter for personal oinameiits. 



"At the close of the season which lasts about three months, on the California coast a huge 

 majority of the great herds, both males and females, return to the sea, and roam in all directions in 

 ipiest of food, as but few of them could liud sustenance about the waters contiguous to the islands, 

 or points on the mainland, which are their annual resorting places. They live upon lish, 1 niollii>k>. 



'THE SKA I. iox> i>i:sii;ri TIN I. or i i-u. Tin- I-'arallnno Kgj; COIMIMIIV. several years iijro. :ilti-ni|iti-il to kill the 

 S-a MOILS which frequented those Inn-roil islands for iheiroil anil skiiiH. Thry Imilt try work* anil wont I"'-' nsidcralde 

 expense, lull it was found that tin- nil obtained from a carcass did not pay for trying it. and I In- only disposition that 

 could lM-inaili-oftli.-sUiiisviastns.il them to glur farlorii-s. Tin- !"*: ii-tiirn 1hi-.V(j'it from the carcass was Itmii 

 bristles or wliiski-rs anil lh.> livers, lioth of tln-s.- were sold to Chinanu-n. Tho former they make ns.- ..!' to . l.-.ni tlu-ir 

 opium pipes, while the hitler is .hopped tip, pill into a mixture <>t alenhnl and another tlnid. and administered as 

 a radical cure for many acute diseases. The company :i< cnrdinyly gave up the plan ol sea-lion hunting, lull the 

 ell'ect of their brief warfare upon I In -so animals was to drive vast droves of them over tothoio, ks aliont I he Mill l!"ii-e 

 and the neighborhood of tin- Heads. In conse.picnee of their Ueiiig prnlected l>y law in tbfiie localities, they have 

 (loiililed anil irclded in nnniKer within t he past time v,.u- '' " s ' ' I-'" 11 " :1 "' a M-ry expeiisn.- luxury. It isprol.al.le 



