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Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1929, Page 3

Six young sea lions, aged from fifteen to twenty-seven months, arrived at Wellington on Friday hy the iutanekai on her return from a visit to the southern lighthouses. All the animals were in excellent condition, notwithstanding that they had been living in wooden crates for several days (says the “ Post”). Fed with live blue cod and “jock stewards a yellow fish with coloured hands—the animals soon recovered- from the shock of being caught in large nets and being placed in pens, where their movement were necessariy restricted, and began to take a hearty interest in their food, so great an interest, in lact, that it becamequite a hearty task to catch enough fish to satisfy their demand. Well cared for by a considerate crew, the sea lions became half tame towards the end of the voyage, although they languished somewhat under the warmer weather of Wellington. The most enjoyable part of the day for the sea lions was when they were hosed with the ship’s hose, and they would often stand upright against the cage to enjoy the refreshing stream of water. Three of the animals were taken to the Wellington /oo and the others were sent on to Auckland.