56 NOTES ON TEE KUBIL ISLANDS. 



some fifty-nine persons, has been established. They are under the 

 charge of a Japanese official and doctor, and are the only permanent 

 residents of the island. They have some cattle and sheep, and 

 cultivate a few plots of ground. 



Although the aspect of Shikotan from seaward is perhaps not 

 very inviting, on closer acquaintance it is found to be a beautiful 

 and picturesque little island, differing in most of its characteristics 

 from the other islands. It is capable of being cultivated to a 

 considerable extent, and would be most suitable, I should say, for 

 cattle-ranching. Deer would thrive well, but there are none on 

 the island, the only land animal being the fox. A few leopard 

 seals and sea-lions and an occasional sea-otter are to be met with 

 around the coast. Wild-fowl are fairly numerous in spring and 

 autumn, and a few ducks breed here. The island has been well 

 surveyed by officers of the Japanese navy, and the chart published. 

 The space between Shikotan and Cape Noishaf is occupied by 

 a number of low flat islands, islets, and rocks, which at one time 

 were no doubt connected with the long tongue-like cape which 

 projects from the eastern side of Yezo, which they closely resemble. 

 The largest of these islands is Shibotsu, with an area of 17 square 

 miles; Suisho is next!]in size, with 3| square miles; then follow 

 Taraku with 3| square miles, and Yuru with 2^ square miles. 

 Akiyuri, Harukaru, and the remaining islets, reefs, and rocks are 

 together equal to about 1 square mile. The Shikotan Channel 

 is 11 miles wide between the island of that name and Taraku. In 

 this channel there is a shoal called Amagi Beef, lying some 5 miles 

 to the north-east of Taraku ; and 4 miles to the south-east of this 

 island there are three or four clusters of rocks and islets called 

 Todo-shima, which are a resort of the sea-lion. 



The ever-present fox is found on these islands, which are the 

 breeding-places of various kinds of sea-birds. Leopard seals are 

 numerous, and now and then a sea-otter is met with. The islands 

 are only of value for the seaweed which is gathered here. 



All these islands and the channels between them have been 

 recently surveyed by the Japanese, and the charts issued. 



KuNASHiR Channel. — Yetorup is separated from Kunashir by 

 the Kunashir Channel, as it is now called, but marked on old 

 charts as Pico Channel and Catherine Channel. This strait is 

 about 12 miles across at its narrowest part. It has deep 



