The San Francisco call., 1897-06-27
a Bull AND HIS HERD-

The seals OF Ano NueYo Island are prac-
ticaIly unknown to both scientists and the
public, notwIths tanding the fact that the
herds there are the largest on the Pacific
Coast and the habits of the species are
the most distinctive.
In many ways their habits are some what
similar TO those of sea birds. Once a year
the rock, or rookeries, are covered with
seals. Young are born and raised there
and then a general migration takes place
OF all but the old females. For months
the rookeries are com mparativeIy deserted.
The seals come and 60 at regular intervals.
II you will look at q map of California,
and closely examine the southwestern
portion OF the coast of San Mateo County,
you will find Ano Nuevo Island. Although
only about thirty five miles from San
Francisco, in a direct line. il is a most
difficult place to get at If every thing
goes well it can be reached in about twelve
hours, but should there be detention of
any kind the journey may consume two
days. The nearest town is Pescadelo,
fourteen miles to the north.
Ano Nuevo Island is cut off from the
mainland by a channel a bout mile wide.
and the only way to cross is in the boat of
-
The seal rocks are scattered to the north
ward of the island, the closest being only
about 500 feet away.
1t was for the purpose of ascertaining
something about the habits OF these seals
and obtaining pictures of them that a
CALL representative visited Ano Nuevo
Island last week, just in the height of the
breeding season. Keeper ButwelI Of the
e.. 4
ing. seals have un doubtedly been most
favorable, gladly furnished all informa-
tion and acted as guide TO the seal rocks.
Some OF the facts that he has gathered in
regard to the habits of seals and the
causes Of their determination are surpris-
ing and valuable. He has watched the
herds constantly at all seasons for a
period of eight years, and the location OF
the rocks, lying as they do so close to the
island, make the seals actions as easily
observable as if they were on the stage OF
a theater.
Years ago." said Mr.. Butwell, There
used to be tens OF thousands of seals on
these rocks, and the killing of them was a
profitable industry. The hides were used
for betting and sold for good price.
In those days the rocks were leased to
hunters, and the killing went on at a
rapid rate. OF course the seals rapidly
diminished in numbers, as males. females
and pups were killed indiscriminately.
When l came here eight years ago all this
had stopped. No hunters were allowed on
the rocks, and it would seem as if the
herds should have again multiplied; but
they didn't. For four wears they kept get
ting fewer, until there were hardly 500
left.
"About this time I began to study the
cause of the decrease. From this point
here on the island can lock across to the
rocks, and by taking a glass can bring
the seals up very close. | had previously
noticed that some of the bulls had ha bit
of killing the young, but had no idea the
evil was so general as l found it to be on
investigation. One morning l saw a GER
tain bull climb on the rocks and kill
about half dozen pups. Others did the
same, so it was soon apparent to me that
the bulls were largely responsible for the
decrease of the herds.
"After becoming convinced that num-
Der of vicious bulls did all the mischief |
began a systematic killing of them.
used to go over on the rocks and lie in
wait Whenever l caught an old fellow
in the act Of killing pup L put bullet
through his head. The first season l
killed about fifty and saved many hun
dred pups, so that the second year the
herds began to increase and this year are
larger than they have been since 1 COM
menced my determination of the vicious
bulls.
"The habits of these seals are most |
peculiar an mysterious. After The pups |
are born on the rocks the cows spend two /
or three months teaching them TO swim, |
and then when the time comes take them /
to sea somewhere and leave them. The
young seals do not return to the place of
their birth until they are two years old,
but where they spend the interval is a
mystery. So you see it took two years to
tell whether. the killing OF the vicious