Sea-elephants are the largest and among the most remarkable of the
seals. Two species are known--one from islands on the borders of the
Antarctic Ocean and the other from the Pacific coast of Upper and Lower
California. The northern species formerly existed in vast numbers along
the coast and among outlying islands from Point Reyes, north of San
Francisco, south to Cedros Island, but is now reduced to a single small
herd living about Guadalupe Island, off Lower California.
The old males attain a length of 22 feet or more and are huge, ungainly
beasts, moving with difficulty on land, but with ease and grace in
the water. The name sea-elephant is obviously derived from the broad
flexible snout of the males, which, when relaxed, hangs 6 or 8 inches
below the muzzle. This curious proboscis can be moved about and raised
vertically, giving the animal a strange appearance. The males have a
loud roar like the bellowing of an ox.
The breeding season extends from February to June, and during this
period these seals are far more numerous on shore than at any other
time. They are gregarious in habits and formerly hauled up in herds on
the islands or on remote and inaccessible beaches of the mainland. On
shore they are sluggish, having none of the alertness shown by many
other seals. They lie supine on the sand and permit a man to walk
quietly up and touch them without showing signs of fear. When attacked
by sealers or otherwise alarmed, however, they become panic-stricken
and make ungainly efforts to escape, but quickly become exhausted by
the exertion necessary to move their great bodies. Their only natural
enemy appears to be the killer whale.
Between 1855 and 1870 the great numbers of northern sea-elephants,
combined with their helplessness on shore and the value of their
oil, attracted numerous sealing and whaling ships to the coast of
Lower California. The resulting slaughter reduced these animals from
swarming abundance to a few scattered herds. Since then their numbers
have steadily decreased, and there is a serious probability that these
strange and interesting habitants of the sea will soon disappear
forever.
The small remaining herd on Guadalupe Island is without protection
and lies at the mercy of wanton hunters. The people of the coastal
towns of California should exert themselves to discourage hunters from
killing these seals, since the only hope for the preservation of this
noteworthy species lies in an awakened public sentiment in its favor.
Even within recent years they have occasionally visited the Santa
Barbara Islands, California, and if the existing survivors can be saved
they may again become resident there.