The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-11-19
End Of the Sea Elephants.
C. F. Holder in New York Ledger.

y. L. dOlueF III New 1Ork LeuRer.
One of the most interesting animals that
originally made its home on the Pacific
coast is extinct-the sea elephant having
been completely wiped out Of existence
during the past few years. In 1850 herds
of fifty OF sixty were often seen on the
California islands, but they were slaugh-
tered, male and female, without mercy,
and have gradually disappeared. 1t was
reported some time ago that several had
been seen, and to prove it, if possible, an
examination of the various localities was
made by the writer.
The sea elephant is the giant Of the seal
tribe, and some of the large males killed
on the California coast were p feet in
length with circumference of Is or is
feet. The males had Il we'll defined pro
boscs, which, when the animal was en-
ragged, became inflated, giving the animal
a singular and ferocious appearance. The
temptation to kill the animals was strong,
as there was an active demand for the oil,
and large male would produce over 200
gallons.
The California sea elephant is identical
with the South Pacific form, which is also
being exterminated as rapidly as the men
can be found to undertake the hardships
of the trip. At Tristan d Acunha there
was formerly herd, but it has been ex-
terminated. At Kerguelen's Land there
are still few herds. Mosely found males
here II feet in length, and so heavy and
listless that they would not leave when a
gun was fired near their heads. When at
tackled with clubs the male raised it's head
and tail into the air, opened its enormous
mouth and uttered loud roars. The ami
mails come inshore during the breeding sea-
son, and are covered with fat; at this time
they do not feed, living on the thick
blubber which surrounds them.
On the weather side of Merton Island
numbers Of sea elephants still exist, or did
at the time of the visit of the Challenger
They are probably still there, unless the
sealers have devised some method of get
ting the large animals across the beach,
where the oil could be shipped. The Cal
ifornia sea elephants were probably stray
individuals from those southern herds
reaching in their travels as far north as the
islands of Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa, off
Santa Barbara. Up to 1850 there were
large herds on Cerros, or Cedros, Island,
but the sealers discovered them and to-
day the stone huts Of the latter and the
bleaching skeletons of the elephants alone
tell the story. The herds were accus-
toned to crawl up the canyons to sandy
places, and here they were attacked by
the sealers coming in from the sea. The
men rushed at them with guns, clubs and
spears, and killed them in the most brutal
fashion. Some of the old males resented
the onslaught, and occasionally would seize
a sailor and toss him, but they were easily
demoralized and crowded over one another
and were killed in heaps crowded against
the walls of the cliffs. In this way Cap
tain Scammon and party killed herd of
sixty five sea elephants on one of the Cal
ifornia islands in 1858.
This work of determination was followed
until 1860, when there were SO few ami
mails left that the business was given up as
far south as Guadalupe and San Benito
Islands. In 1880, eighteen years ago,
schooner, the San Diego, sailed from the
pert of that name for San Cristobal Bay,
fifty miles from Cedros Island. Here they
found herd that had increased from
few that had been accidentally missed by
the last raiders. With characteristic per-
severance, they killed every one, young
and old, male and female, bringing back
10 sea elephants, of which fourteen were
large bulls. In the same year a sloop
made the same trip, the men finding
herd $ ninety three sea elephants The
men seem to have been actuated by feel
ings of humanity, as they spared few
young ones But it was of no avail, as
later in the season the crew of the San
Diego killed every one. This was reported
to the United States Government, and an
expedition was sent there to see if any sea
elephants had been spared, All the
rookeries were visited where these fine and
large animals had once been found in such