Sea-lions are near relatives of the fur seals and have a nearly similar
distribution, both in far southern and northern seas. The males of the
several species are more than twice the size of the females and are
characterized by an enormous development of neck and shoulders. The
Steller sea-lion is the largest member of the group, the old bulls
weighing from 1,200 to 1,500 pounds. All are extremely gregarious and
polygamous.
The Steller sea-lions belong to the North Pacific, whence they range
in winter as far south as the coasts of California and Japan. In
spring they migrate northward to their breeding grounds among the
Aleutian, Pribilof, and other rocky islands of the North Pacific. The
early histories of this region record their great abundance, including
several hundred thousand which were reported to have congregated to
breed each season on the Pribilof Islands. Although less valuable than
the fur-seal, persistent hunting has gradually reduced their numbers on
these islands until in 1914 only a few hundred remained.
In summer range they are less limited than the fur seals, occurring in
herds about the shores of many rocky islands along the mainland coast
of the North Pacific and the Aleutian chain.
Since the primitive days before the arrival of civilized men in their
haunts, sea-lions were of the greatest economic importance to the
Aleutian Islanders and other coast natives. Food and fuel were obtained
from their flesh and blubber; coverings for boats were made of their
skins; water-proof overshirts of their intestines; boot soles from the
tanned skin of their flippers; trimmings of fancy garments from their
tanned gullets and bristles, and thread from their sinews.
They are preëminently animals of the most rugged of shorelines and the
stormiest of seas, being superbly powerful beasts with extraordinary
vitality. The ease with which they pass through a smother of pounding
seas to mount their rugged resting places is an admirable exhibition
of skill and strength. The males have a bellowing roar, which rises
continually from the herds on the rocks in savage unison with the
booming of the sea against the base of their refuge.
The harems of the bulls on Pribilof Islands rarely exceed a dozen
members, which are under less strict discipline than the harems of
the fur seals. The old bulls, especially during the mating season,
are aggressive and savage fighters, inflicting severe wounds on one
another. At all times they are more courageous and belligerent than fur
seals, and hunters driving parties of them back from the beach on the
Pribilofs approach them with extreme caution, to avoid the dangerous
charges of angry bulls. It is reported that an umbrella opened and
closed suddenly in the faces of the old sea-lions appears to terrify
them more than any other weapon and is used successfully in drives.
At sea they have only a single known enemy to fear--the fierce killer
whale.
[Illustration: PACIFIC WALRUS]
[Illustration: ALASKA FUR SEAL]
[Illustration: STELLER SEA-LION]
=SEA OTTER= (=Latax lutris= and its subspecies)
Sea otters, distant relatives of land otters, are heavy-bodied animals,
about 4 feet long, with broad webbed hind feet. When in the water they
have a general resemblance to seals, whose mode of life is similar to
theirs. Their fur is extremely dense and on the skins of adult males is
almost black, closely sprinkled with long white-tipped hairs. The fur
of prime skins has a silky luster, equaled in beauty by only the finest
silver-tipped fox skins. For centuries sea-otter fur has been highly
prized and single skins have brought more than $1,000 in the London
market.
Otters are limited to the coasts of the North Pacific, where formerly
they were incredibly abundant all the way from the shores and islands
of Lower California to the Aleutians, and thence along the Asiatic
coast to the Kuriles. Through excessive hunting, they are now extinct
along most of this extended coast-line.
In the days of the Russian occupation of Alaska the discovery of the
abundance of sea otters led to intense activity in their pursuit.
Otter-hunting expeditions were organized by the Russians along the
storm-swept coast from Unalaska to Sitka, sailing vessels being used
as convoys for hundreds of Aleut hunters in their skin-covered boats.
The loss of life among the hunters under their brutal taskmasters was
appalling and resulted in seriously and permanently reducing the native
population of the Aleutian Islands. At the same time enormous numbers
of sea-otter skins were taken. Afterward both English and American
ships engaged in the pursuit of otters farther down the coast.
The first year after the discovery of the Pribilof Islands the records
show that 5,000 sea otters were taken there. Many expeditions in other
directions secured from one to several thousand skins. When sea otters
were most abundant they were found all down the coast, even in San
Francisco Bay, and one American trading vessel obtained 7,000 skins in
a few weeks from the natives of the northern coast of Lower California.
The otters formerly frequented the shores of rocky islands and outlying
reefs, but constant persecution has driven the few survivors to remain
almost constantly at sea, where they seek resting places among kelp
beds. They are now excessively shy and, aided by keen eyes and an acute
sense of smell, are difficult to approach. When anything excites their
curiosity they commonly raise the body upright, the head high above
water, and gaze steadily at the object. If alarmed, they dive and
reappear at a long distance.
Otter hunters report the animals very playful in pleasant weather, and
sometimes floating on their backs and playing with pieces of kelp. The
mother is devoted to her young and is said to play with it in the water
for hours at a time.
All efforts to rear the young in captivity have failed. The food of the
sea otter is mainly of shellfish of various kinds, secured by them from
the bottom of the sea.
Practically the only sea otters left among the hordes which once
frequented the American shores of the North Pacific are now scattered
along the Aleutian Islands. Government regulations prohibit their being
hunted and it is hoped that enough still remain to restock the wild and
stormy sea where they have their home.