140 THE INIIABITANTS OF THE SEA. 
torical interest, since it has been the chief cause which led the 
Russians from Ochotzk to Kamtschatka, and from thence over 
the Aleut chain to the op- 
posite coast of America. 
The Aleut islanders 
show a wonderful dexte- 
rity in the capture of this 
animal. In April or May 
they assemble at an ap 
pointed spot in their light 
skin-boats, or baidars, and 
choose one of the most 
respected tamols, or chiefs, for the leader of the expedition, 
which generally numbers from fifty to a hundred boats. Such 
hunting-parties are annually organised from the Kurile Islands 
to Kad/ack, and consequently extend over a line of three thousand 
miles. On the first fine day the expedition sets out, and proceeds 
to a distance of about forty wersts from the coast, when the 
baidars form into a long line, leaving an interval of about two 
hundred and fifty fathoms from boat to boat as far as a sea-otter 
diving out of the water can be seen; so that a row of thirty 
baidars occupies a space of from ten to twelve wersts. When 
the number of the boats is greater, the intervals are reduced. 
Every man now looks upon the sea with concentrated attention. 
Nothing escapes the penetrating eye of the Aleut; in the smallest 
black spot appearing but one moment over the surface of the 
waters, his experienced glance at once recognises a sea-otter. 
The baidar which first sees the animal, rows rapidly towards the 
place where the creature dived, and now the Aleut, holding his 
oar straight up in the air, remains motionless on the spot. Im- 
mediately the whole squadron is in motion, and the long straight 
line changes into a wide circle, the centre of which is oceupied 
by the baidar with the raised oar. ‘The otter not being able 
to remain long under water, reappears, and the nearest Aleut 
immediately greets him with an arrow. This first attack is 
seldom mortal; very often the missile does not even reach its 
over-distant mark, and the sea-otter instantly disappears. Again 
the oar rises from the next baidar; again the circle forms, but 
this time narrower than at first; the fatigued otter is obliged to 
come oftener to the surface, arrows fly from all sides, and finally 
Sea-Otter. 
