Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/219

 Out on the Pacific coast of the United States is the best place to observe the Sea Lion. There are still a few to be found on the rocks off the Cliff House near San Franciso, and on the northern end of the island of Catalina, but the hunter must go farther to the South to see great herds in a wild state.

There is a lonely island called St Nicholas off Southern Califorina and it is truly one of the "jumping off" places of the United States. This island is about nine miles long. It is almost without water or vegetation, in fact, nothing but sun and sand and rocks and sea; a more wild desolate spot can hardly be imagined. Here it is that bird and animal life is to be found in abundance, for the hand of man has not touched the spot. Gulls, sea eagles and ducks fly about in great flocks, but they are not as interesting as the mighty herds of sea lions.

Two hunters went out to the island in a sloop; a sail of some hundred or more miles, and arrived during the night and anchored off shore. The sea lions could be heard splashing and roaring on every side. As soon as the sun had dispelled the morning fog the island came into view. The rocks on the shore were literally covered with sea lions of every age and size. When they saw the boat they became very excited and moved about uneasily. The two hunters rowed ashore and landed, no easy job for the surf runs high on this exposed beach. They landed some distance from the rookery, and walked slowly along the beach. Immediately all the females took to the water, carrying their young with them. The old bulls stood their ground however and bellowed angry warnings. The two men approached quite close to the biggest fellow and watched it with interest for several minutes, until it made a very sudden attack. It took four large winchester bullets to lay it out. The shots caused the rest of the herd to scatter. This bull was an enormously fat fellow, its teeth being exceptionally large and white. Its fur was uneven and not at all pretty.

After looking around for some time one of the hunters saw something move near a rock. On going up to it he found it to be a tiny sea lion. He picked it up in his arms, and carried it back to the boat. The little thing did not struggle at all but gazed about in a bewildered fashion. The two men laid the baby down on the deck, stroked its fur and gave it a saucer of milk which it drank greedily. It seemed a good deal like a very misshaped, but cunning pussy cat. Suddenly there was a big splash in the water, and the men saw that the mother had followed the young one to the boat. It swam round and round crying miserably, and at times raised itself up in the water, in an endeavour to see its youngster on the deck. At last the poor mother's