ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS; ALASKA, WASHINGTON, AND OREGON. 37 
are also taken for home consumption. The numerous small streams and lakes of the 
vicinity abound in trout and other kinds of fresh water fishes. Bears and deer roam 
among the hills and through the valleys. They are hunted by the Indians in winter 
to supply additional food and clothing. 
LIGHT HOUSE ROOKS. 
Position and c/taracter.--“ August 8, at 12.30 p. m., we anchored in 49 fathoms, 890 
yards N. 28° E. from the largest of the Light-house Hocks. The group consists of 
several detached rocks, ranging from 90 feet in height and 500 feet in length to 10 feet 
in height, with two or three nearly awash, over which the sea was breaking. They 
are about 500 yards in extent, and can be approached within half a mile with safety. 
No two charts agree as to their location, giving it from latitude 55° 44' to 55° 45' N., 
longitude 157° 25' to 157° 30' W. It was our intention to verify their position, but a 
dense fog, which settled down soon after we left the mainland, prevented. 
“Our run placed them in latitude 55° 43' N., and longitude 157° 20' W., but it was 
not sufficiently reliable to justify us in changing their position on the chart. Latitude 
55° 44' N., and longitude 157° 25' W. is about the mean and not far from correct.” 
Sea-lion rookery. — A landing was made by the naturalists in order to examine 
the large rookery of Steller’s sea lion {Eumetopias steUeri) which exists there. The 
weather was very thick at the time, a dense fog hanging low over the water, but the 
sea being smooth a landing was easily effected. Much care had to be exercised in 
moving over the slippery rocks, smeared with the oil derived from the carcasses of 
numerous large sea lions which had evidently met their death in combat with their 
own species. Several hundred of these animals were crowded together upon a, very 
limited area. Thousands of murres were breeding wherever they could find ledges 
and crevices inaccessible to the seals, and there were also a few kittiwake gulls and 
fulmars in sight. As the party was landing the sea lions came tumbling down over 
the rocks in their eagerness to reach the sea. A few, whose retreat was intercepted, 
were seen to jump from their high positions directly into the water, apparently sus- 
taining no injury from the plunge, although the distance was considerable, especially 
for such large animals. There were probably as many pups as adults in the herd, and 
occasionally a small body of these would detach themselves from the rest and swim 
some distance off shore. A couple of killer whales (Orca), attracted doubtless by the 
disturbance at the rookery and the large number of seals in the water, came up quite 
close to the rocks, causing the seals to gather nearer shore and cast evident glances 
of alarm toward the killers, whose dorsal fins showed not less than 4 feet above the 
surface. The Orcas moved actively about, but it was not positively seen that any of 
the seals were seized by them. Un several occasions, however, when pressed too hard 
on the water side, the seals ventured to crawl out upon the ''^cks, only to plunge back 
into the sea at the least movement on the part of the Albatross party. A rifle ball was 
finally planted in the back of one of the Orcas, causing the precipitate departure of 
both of them. A fine bull sea lion, measuring over 13 feet long, was shot by Mr. 
Townsend, and its skin removed and preserved after some two hours’ hard labor. As 
soon as the naturalists left the island the sea lions returned to their rookery. These 
rocks are entirely barren of vegetation. 
