FUR SEALS OF GUADALUPE, GALAPAGOS, AND LOBOS ISLANDS. 



269 



sworn statements as to its former abundance upon these islands. The time at our dis- 

 posal did not permit of a visit being made to the San Benita Islands, where, however, 

 I observed numbers of Zalophvs in 1884. 



The following early reference to this species, brought to my attention by Dr. L. 

 Stejneger, will be of iuterest in this connection : 



In former days there was a great multitude of seals on the rocks of the Farallones, in the ocean 

 opposite the Bay of San Francisco. The Americans of the United States have completely extermi- 

 nated them there. On Guadalupe there is also found a species of sea heiir, hut these inhabitants of 

 a hot climate are smaller than their broth(U'S in the north. Their color is also less silvery.' 



Fig. 3. — Hind flippers of elephant seal. 



PARTIAL RECORD OF FUR SEALS TAKEN ON GUADALUPE AND SAN BENITA ISLANDS 



FROM 1876 TO 1892. 



1876-77: Mr. George W. Chase, of San Diego, Cal., killed a few fur seals on San 

 Benita Island, and reports that they were accompanied by pups. 



1877: The late Oapt. Charles Haritwen, of Alameda, Cal., resided on Guadalupe 

 Island in 1877 in connection with the island goat ranch. He informed me that sev- 

 eral vessels were sealing there then, one of which he remembers to have taken about 

 300 and another 500 seals. Seal skins at that time were worth only $2.50 each. 



' Baer in Wrangell's Stat. Ethn, Nachr. Nordwest. Amerika, St. Petersburg, 1839, p. 39. 



