THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



347 



This country likewife affords woodcocks, fnipes, and two *779- 

 forts of groufe, or moor-game. Swans are alfo faid to be 

 in great plenty ; and, in their entertainments, generally to 

 make a part of the repaft, though I do not remember to 

 have feen one on any occafion. The vafl abundance of 

 wild-fowl, with which the country is flored, was manifefl 

 from the numerous prefents we received from the Tcion of 

 St. Peter and St. Paul ; and which fometimes confiftcd of 

 twenty brace. 



We met with no amphibious fea-animals on the coaft, 

 except feals, with which the bay of Awatfka fwarmed ; as 

 they were, at this time, in purfuit of the falmon that were 

 collecting in fhoals, and ready to afcend the rivers. Some 

 of them are faid to purfue the fifh into the frefli water, and 

 co be found in molt of the lakes which communicate with 

 the fea. 



The fea-otters * are exactly the fame with thofe we met 

 with at Nootka Sound, which have been already fully de- 

 fcribed, and where they are in great plenty. They are alfo 

 faid to have been formerly in equal abundance here; but, 

 fince the Ruflians have opened a trade for their fkins to 

 China, where they are fold at a price much beyond that of 

 any other kind of fur, they have been hunted almoft intirely 

 out of the country. Amongft the Kurile iflands they are 

 ftill caught, though in no great numbers ; but are of a fu- 

 perior quality to thofe of Kamtfchatka, or the American 

 coaft. 



We are informed, that, on Mednoi and Beering's Ifland, 

 fcarce a fea-otter is now to be found; though it appears 



* Mujhla lutris. 



Y y z from 



