
VOGEL VDE SUROL LLL: 
toward influencing the California people 
against such a dangerous course. 
Very respectfully, 
Barton W. Evermann, 
Ichthyologist, U. S. Fish Commission. 
Here is a copy of a letter written by the 
Hon: Geo. M. Bowers, &nited States Fish 
Commissioner, to the ‘Secretary of the 
Treasury: 
From newspaper clippings and other 
sources I learn that the California State 
Fish Commission has determined upon 
the destruction of the sea lion herds, on 
HeMECOASt Ol that state, Some) of the 
newspaper articles indicate that it is the 
intention to carry the war against the sea 
lion even to the practical extermination of 
the species on the California coast. It 
also appears that permission to kill the 
animals on and about the Light House 
reservations has been granted the Califor- 
nia Fish Commission. 
The reason for this war on the sea lion 
is stated to be the assumed fact that the 
sea lion is destructive to the fishing in- 
terests of that coast. 
From the best information obtainable 
it does not appear that any investigation 
or study of the food of the sea lion has 
ever been made. I can not learn that any 
one has ever examined the stomach of a 
sea lion for the purpose of studying its 
food. ; 
It is not unlikely that the sea lion does 
feed to some extent on food-fishes, but 
it is equally likely that it also feeds on 
certain species of sharks which may be 
even more destructive to food-fishes than 
the sea lion is. 
In consideration of these facts I would 
strongly urge a suspension of the order 
permitting the killing of the sea lions on 
the Government reservations on the Cal- 
ifornia coast, pending a thorough investi- 
gation of the food habits of the species. 
Or, if the order can not be wholly re- 
voked, I would then request that it be 
so modified as to permit the killing of 
such a number only as may be necessary 
to furnish material for a study of the stom- 
ach contents. 
It will be a national disgrace if this in- 
teresting and attractive animal should be 
exterminated in this way, and on the very 
doubtful character of the evidence which 
has been brought against it. 
Then comes this from Mr. Hornaday: 
Iam glad you have taken this matter up 
vigorously. I had yesterday a long in- 
terview with the chief clerk of the Light- 
house Board, and from him learned the 
exact status of the case at this date. To 
my astonishment I find that Dr. Jordan 
has reported on the subject, to the Cali- 
Ae SPAIN SHA VO TOUNS,, 107 
fornia Fish Commission, and has advised 
and endorsed the destruction of the sea 
lions. Backed up by his report the com- 
mission applied to the Lighthouse Board 
for permission to send men to the various 
islands where the sea lions congregate, 
to spend 30 days in shooting the animals. 
This permission has been granted and will 
go into effect the first of June. IJ am now 
writing to the Lighthouse Board for a 
copy of Jordan’s report. I intend to ask 
the Zoological Society to forward to the 
Lighthouse Boara an urgent request for 
the suspension of the order permitting the 
killing of seals, pending further and more 
thorough investigation by Dr. Merriam’s 
bureau. The Lighthouse Board has 
granted permission for the sea lions to be 
thinned out, but not that the herd should 
be exterminated; but the whole business 
will be practically in the hands of the paid 
killers of the Fish Commission, and with 
long range rifles of modern manufacture, 
and smokeless powder, you can imagine 
about how many sea lions would be left 
at the end of 30 days. Undoubtedly the 
men wiil kill as many as they can. 
It is useless to try to do anything with 
the California Fish Commission, but we 
may be able to do something with the 
Lighthouse Board. Fortunately, there is 
time to act before the first of June. 
On receipt of the foregoing I wrote Sec- 
retary Gage to this effect: 
I am in receipt of a copy of a letter sent 
you by the Hon. George M. Bowers, U. 
S. Fish Commissioner, in which he re- 
quests you to prohibit, in so far as pos- 
sible, the proposed killing of the seals and 
sea lions on the California coast. 
On behalf of the League of American 
Sportsmen, which now has 2,000 members 
distributed throughout 42states,and on be- 
half of the 300,000 readers of RECREATION, 
practically all of whom are deeply inter- 
ested in the protection of all the native 
fauna of this country, I beg to endorse 
most heartily everything Mr. Bowers has 
said) to (you vin ‘the letter referred to. In 
common with all other naturalists and na- 
ture lovers in the United States I feel that 
the proposed slaughter of these beau- 
tiful and interesting animals would be a 
national disgrace. 
I enclose herewith copy of a letter I 
recently wrote the California Fish Com- 
mission, which I trustyou will take timeto 
read carefully and which expresses my 
views and those of my colleagues, at great- 
er length. 
I earnestly hope you will exercise your 
authority in this matter promptly. I am 
in receipt of advices from San Francisco 
to the effect that the killing has already 
commenced. The Fish Commission 
has employed a number of hunters and 
