FLORA OF THE ISLAND OF SHIKOTAN. 437 
while those on the northern coast are considerably longer and have a much 
less rapid gradient. The longest one, the Poropet--which in Ainu language 
eans large river—is about 7 miles long and flows through swamps and 
hogs. Although this river is quite narrow, it is said to be navigable for 
one-third of its length. The best harbour, Shakotan—which means the 
large place or village—is situated at the north-eastern corner of the 
island and is well protected from wind by the hills. This is the principal 
settlement in the whole island and is inhabited by the Ainus and Japanese 
settlers. The village-hall, to which are attached a police-station and a post- 
office, a school, and a small Greek Catholie church (this religion is professed 
by the Ainus), are the chief establishments at this place. Round the coast 
lie about a dozen fishing-stations of the Japanese, some of whom pass the 
winter on the island, while others come over only in the season. Roads 
have never been constructed on the island. Pedestrians ean, however, 
travel along a narrow track which often vanishes into swamps or is over- 
grown with vegetation or interrupted by streams, and when the characteristic 
dense fogs envelop the island, and all the landmarks are hidden, it would be 
almost hopeless for the helpless traveller to proceed any farther. There is 
neither inn nor shop on the island ; still, strangers are always welcomed by 
fishermen and can get accommodation for a night’s rest. The coast is 
constantly washed by the strong cold currents which come down from the 
Sea of Okhotsk and from the Behring Sea, running along the whole chain 
of the Kuriles. A small branch of the Kuroshio, the warm currents, which 
come down through the Strait of. La Pérouse, and another, which flows some 
distance on the south of the Kurile chain, affect the climate of the island. 
As to the temperature, there are no observations of any value. From 
November till April the island is almost locked up in ice, so that navigation 
during this time is absolutely impossible. In midsummer the thermometer 
is said to go up as high as 80° F., but a much lower temperature prevails 
for the greater part of the time. The sea round the island is very deep, 
and several species of Laminaria are found on the bottom. On the south- 
eastern coast Porphyra umbilicalis grows on rocks, an alga which is 
edible. 
I may, perhaps, say a word here about those small islands mentioned above, 
lying between Shikotan and Yezo. Most of these have the same physio- 
graphical features as the adjacent parts of Yezo, t. e., they are flat and 
destitute of forests. The island of Taruku, which is situated nearest to 
Shikotan, however, presents a similar appearance to the latter, being hilly 
and partly covered with woody vegetation. A comparison of the flora of 
these two islands would be highly interesting and valuable, but at the present 
moment we have to leave it out of the question, owing to the lack of any 
floristic record of Taruku. 
