60 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 
about 120 tons. The junk was dismasted and floating in a helpless condition. 
Sakaki-bara Katsubé, mate, and Tomokitchi, sailor, the only survivors of 12 
men, were rescued from the wreck, and made the following statement, which 
is very interesting as anillustration of many doubtless similar struggles. In 
October, 1875, the junk loaded at Shari and Abashiri, on the northern 
coast of the island of Yeso, with salted salmon and preserved roe of salmon, 
Left latter place November 5th, and touched at Hakodaté, whence they sailed 
December 6th for Tokio, Niphon. On the 9th, when on the east coast of 
Japan between lat. 39° and 40° N., and about long. 142° E.. a severe westerly 
gale was encountered. December 12th carried away mainmast. Afterwards 
got it in and fished it with a piece of the main yard. On the 18th carried that 
mast away, and the yard was washed overboard. A sea soon after disabled 
the rudder, which was unshipped and taken in, the vessel in the meantime 
making water freely. To lighten her, 300 kokus of cargo (nearly two-thirds), 
was thrown overboard. From this time the vessel floated helplessly. 
Early in January, 1876, fresh water gave out, and all the rainwater possible 
was saved and used. Then three seamen were taken down with the scurvy, 
which soon appeared amony the balance. Towards the close of January, fire- 
wood gave out, but a small nucleus of fire was preservedin astove. Asalast 
resort, the junk’s boat was broken up for firewood. All hands subsisting on 
a little rice cooked in rain water, and principally on salt fish, with a very 
small allowance of water. February 5th Chojero died—the first death. 
March 9th, Capt. Sato Sangoro died; then followed Kitsaburo, April 16th; 
Bunkichi, 21st; Kizo, 24th; Renkitchi, May 2d; Skedjero, 2d; Taské, 2d; 
Heihichi, 14th, and finally, Matsutaro, June 10th. The two survivors, anti- 
cipating a similar death, lingered until the forenoon of July 3d, when they 
sighted a vessel, had strength enough to raise a signal, and were rescued. 
They caught rain May 24th, after nearly all had died, which largely assisted 
in preserving the survivors. They also caught fifteen large fresh fish called 
bonita. Before the captain died, he wrote and handed to the mate letters to 
his family and owners, describing all details. The two survivors, expecting 
death themselves, boxed these up, with the ship’s papers, and fastened them 
in a conspicuous place, whence they were taken and preserved. After the 
death of each person, the survivors enclosed their bodies in a Japanese coffin 
suitably inscribed, and stowed them in the hold of the junk, hoping they 
might reach some land an? receive burial. The survivors reached San 
Francisco August 15th, 1876, and after recuperating, were returned to Japan 
by Mr. Takaki.* 
Many more might easily be added, but these suffice to establish many facts 
valuable to science. 
The annual rainfall of Japan averages 70.33 inches, occurring on 197.7 
days, two-1hirds of which falls between April and October; at Tokio the ther- 
mometer varies from a monthly maximum of 91° Faht. in August, to a min- 
imum of 20° in January, averaying 58° 22 for the year, and averages 48° 33 
at Hakodaté, where the average number of hard gales per annum is 16.79. 
[See Kaitakushi Reports and Tables, Tokio, 1875. ] 
*_Note.—These last two cases haye been submitted by Mr. Brooks as additions to the 
list for publication since the reading of this paper. 
