DESCRIPTION OF EACH ISLAND AND THE STRAITS. 67 



There are rocks and reefs off the south-east coast to a distance 

 of nearly 2 miles. All round the rest of the island the coast may 

 be approached with safety. Anchorage may be got off the north 

 shore in 10 to 12 fathoms, and off the south side in 12 to 15 fathoms 

 on a rocky bottom. On the east side of the south-east point there 

 is a rocky bight where a landing can be effected at almost any time. 

 There is a sea-lion rookery on the south-west point, and 

 another on the south-east point. These animals also frequent the 

 rocks off the east cape, but it is not a regular rookery. A few 

 sea-otters and leopard seals are to be found. 



Foxes are the only land animals. Fish are not to be obtained; 

 the streams are very small, and water is difficult to obtain. There 

 is some scrub on the island, and a patch of fir trees on a slope facing 

 the northern shore. 



Birds are not numerous, there being few suitable breeding- 

 places for them. Amongst the fir trees mentioned I came across 

 a colony of nutcrackers {Nucifraga caryocatactes), birds I have not 

 noticed on the other islands north of Yetorup. 



Ketoi Strait, 13i miles across, is free from dangers. 

 UsHiSHiR, on the north-east side of Ketoi Strait, is com- 

 posed of two islands, each about a mile and a half in length, with 

 a narrow bouldery reef about two cables long between them. 

 Their area is about 1^ square mile. The north island is of an 

 elongated diamond form. It is surrounded by steep cliffs with a 

 narrow beach beneath them. At its northern extremity it is about 

 80 feet high, with a level and gradual slope upwards to its southern 

 point, which is some 300 or 400 feet high. The south island of 

 Ushishir is the larger, and reaches a maximum height of 13G0 feet. 

 It is a volcanic crater which has been breached on its southern 

 side, giving access to the sea. The entrance is between two low 

 spits, but there is only sufficient depth of water for a boat. Inside 

 the crater the water is deep. There are boiling springs and 

 fumeroles from which much steam issues. This crater has been 

 more fully described when speaking about the volcanoes. 



A high dome-shaped rock lies close to the south-east point. 

 Babuskin rock, off its western point, is high and flattish on its 

 topmost part, but rugged on the lower ridges. On the north point 

 is a deserted village formerly inhabited by Kurilsky Ainu. 



The best anchorages on Ushishir are between its two parts on 



