198. CAKNIVORA. 



WEST COAST SEAL. 

 Otaria gillespie. 



The West Coast Seal, called sometimes the Black Sea- 

 Lion, has been classed as a distinct species, although to 

 some extent similar to the Vancouver Island Seal, 

 especially in the females and younger animals, which 

 are of the same bright silvery colour, with red marks on 

 the flippers. The bulls, and older animals, however, 

 are almost black, being covered with black hair ; the 

 under fur is red, and very little fur is found on the 

 larger animals, the habitat being too far south. The 

 bulls attain a large size, about 9 to 10 feet. The bark 

 is well sustained and loud. 



This is the Seal which lived and bred in the Brighton 

 Aquarium. Most of the eared Seals have been taught 

 to perform tricks, climbing on chairs, etc. This Seal 

 inhabits the Farralones Islands off San Francisco, and 

 St. Barbara, and other islands on the coast of California. 

 At Seal Point, about six miles from San Francisco, the 

 Seals are considered one of the sights of California, and 

 the capture or disturbing of them is forbidden by law. 



Most of the skins are of poor quality, except on the 

 back. They fetched a high price a few years ago, but 

 are now rarely imported on account of the inferiority of 

 the fur. They only pay when the price of other Fur 

 Seals is very high. 72s. has been known to have been 

 paid for these poor skins, but the actual value is from 

 5s. to 30s. 



