Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-01
One of the Features Along the
Southern California Coast.
KILL GREAT QUANTITIES OF FISH
As a Rule They Are Not Consid-
cred a Nuisance.
THEIR RIoUS HABITS
rom the Scientific American.

The fact that the authorities Of San Fran
cisco. in answer to an appeal from the
fishermen. have begun a warfare against
the sea lions Of the vicinity calls attention
to the few remaining and very interesting
rookerfes in southern California half
century or so ago sea elephants lived in
large herds on Santa Catalina Island but
they were utterly and completely wiped
out of existence by the sea elephant hunter,
who waged continual war upon them Thu
same influence has been directed ayalns.
the sea lion, which is soon destined II no.
protected, to disappear from the Pacifh.
coast of North America.
One Of the most interesting herds found
in southern California is on Santa Catalina
Island. The rookery is on the extrems
southeastern end. where a small group OK
rocks rise above high water and are con.
nected TO the mainland at low water. Here
the sea lions make their headquarters and
live urmolested, being protected by local
rules. They number perhaps one hundred,
ana are controlled or dominated by two %:
three large bulls.
Their actions are very interesting, and
at this time they make vigorous protests
when a fishing boat approaches: yet they
are so tame that they allow visitors to row
within fifteen or twenty feet of them ana
appear to be perfectly Indifferent. Santa
Catalina is nearly sixty miles around and
offers many inducements for seals and sea
hons at various points: but for some reason
they have selected this spot that is by no
means smooth though IL can I've called a
lee, and is open to the fierce southeast gales
of winter; in the summer and most of the
year the rookery is protected.
Menace to Fisheries.
In view CT the complaint Of the fishermen
Of San Francisco that the sea lions were
devastating their grounds. some inquiries
were made at the island mentioned; but
while it was acknowledged that the one
hundred or more lions consumed large
quantities of fish, except in certain In
stances to be referred to the animals were
not considered a Nuisance. ] believe, how
ever, that the sea lions devour a vast
amou 1t of fish and that the fishermen 40
not appreciate feel IL, as this island is
bly, rich in its supply of fishes
me sea lions bask on the rocks nearly all
Gay, ana at about o'clock start out. sin
gly or in groups, a feeding trip upshore
The young sea lions, the yearlings and
two-year-olds go in bands and often make
their trip apparently for pleasure They
enter Avalon bay like porpoises syir,minf
at the top of their speed bounding out of
the water in twos and threes and more
making the circuit of the hay in few mo-
ments. After dark, generally from to 10
or later the large sea lions enter the bay
to feed. They are scavengers in a se1ss,
feeding on any dead fish that may have
been washed offshore or thrown away bN
the fishermen. At this time they mako the
little rock-bound bay reverberate with
their barking. Bringing the fish from the
bottom, they rise to the surface and with
violent swings from side TO side endeavor
to tear il into pieces, in which they uItf-
mately succeed. The old males are rarely.
IL ever seen feeding in the daytime.
when They Feed.
The ections of the large sea lions in feed
ing here are most interesting. and their
speed under water is marvellous Standing
upright at the bottom, with their tails rest
ing upon It. they watch every movement
of the angler, deity removing his bait
when thrown over. At other times they
have been known to follow the boat and
drive all the fish away which the fisherman
by patient cumming had gathered about
him. A Venetian fisherman at this island
informed the writer that a sea lion often
accompanied him to his gill-nets and every
few moments descended to Investigate and
literally took the fish from the nets as fast
as they entered rising to the surface and
tossing them into the air, In seeming de-
rislon. and outraging every sense of pro-
priety. Yet these fishermen have never
made formal complaint against the seals
and sea lions.
The reason is doubtless that the sea lion
rookery is an attraction to tourists and
nearly all the fishermen ere Interested in
transporting them to the seal rocks; hence
what they may lose by the depredations of
the animals they gain again In exhibiting
the rookery as curiosity. charging -
cents for the trip. Yet I'm the opinion of
the writer II might be well to restrict the
growth of the herd by removing some of
the males to other localities. Each seal
eats not less than ten rock bass or white
FISH per day. which at a minimum means
the destruction of four or five thousand
flsh from this region daily. Curiously. the
best fishing ground about the island is
within two hundred feet of the rookery.
Visit to a Rookery.
On San Clemente Island twenty miles
distant, there are two or three good-sized
rookeries where the animals are compare
lively unmolested and where the schools OF
fish are so plentiful that the ravages of the
sea lions are not felt. The writer after
much difficulty visited the sea lion rookery
on the Island of San Nicolas eighty miller
northwest of Santa Catalina. 1t lies on the
leeward side of the island and was at first
in very much the same situation as that of
Santa Catalina Here there were a large
number OF sea lions, but the single lone
herder Of the island was doing his best to
drive them away, and had partly succeed
ed by shooting into them with bird shot
His hut was near at hand, and the roaring
and barking of the animals, according to
his statement. made sleep almost impos-
slble; he also said that the animals were
dangerous and would attack any one in
fringing on their domain
On the Island of Santa Cruz, one hundred
miles north of Santa Catalina, three dis
unct rookeries were visited by the writer,
one only being large. On Anacapa Island
there is small rookery, and a large one
and several small ones on Santa Rosa. In
all, there are probably at least one thou
sand sea lions and seals on the southern
California islands. deyouring five thousand
pounds of fish per day-a large amount yet
hardly apprecia BILE when the vast food sup
ply is taken into consideration and il will
be some time before the lions will have
to be destroyed to protect the fisheries.