EARED-SEALS. 511 



seals and sea-lions along their coast, apparently more because 

 they were objects of interest and curiosity than for any other 

 purpose, but the voracity of the animals was so great that the 

 State fish-commissioners — who found the results of their efforts 

 to stock the waters with food-fishes considerably impaired, 

 if not completely destroyed, by the seals — introduced a bill to 

 repeal the protective act, hoping that this step would soon effect 

 a diminution of the number of these rapacious marine carnivora. 



These sea-lions can be formidable antagonists. The following 

 account of an onset one of them made upon a boat, was published 

 in a San Francisco newspaper : " As a Mexican Indian named 

 Sacramentus was crossing Tomales Bay at Marshall, the boat was 

 attacked by a large sea-lion. The Indian dealt the beast a heavy 

 blow on the head with a hatchet, but without repulsing the animal, 

 which again attacked the boat with renewed fury. It was finally 

 killed and afterwards towed ashore. The fishermen estimated its 

 weight at 1200 pounds." 



These sea-lions are polygamous and gregarious, but do not 

 assemble together in such immense numbers as the fur-seals, 

 neither do they maintain the regular system and method in settling 

 the economy of their breeding-grounds. Although they fight 

 desperately among themselves, if anything with more savageness 

 than the sea-bears, yet they are entirely wanting in the courage 

 exhibited by the latter animals. They are reported to be among 

 the most timid of all the Pinnipedia, for according to Elhott, a 

 boy with a rattle or a pop-gun could stampede 10,000 sea-lion 

 bulls, in the height of the breeding-season, to the water, and keep 

 them there for the rest of the period. In consequence of their 

 being so shy and suspicious, it is difficult work to get anyway 

 near them in order to make observations, for on the slightest 

 warning or alarm they fly to the water in a panic. 



There is considerable disparity between the sizes of the male 

 and female animals of this species, more so, perhaps, than between 

 any of the others. It is the leonine appearance of the bulls and 

 the ferocious expression they frequently exhibit which has led to 

 the designation of sea-lions being appHed to them. 



The skin of the sea-lion has little commercial value, for it is 



