KEPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS, 229 



In the siinnuer of 1770, while the natives of Itrup, with their Chief, were hunting 

 in tlio Ishind of Urup, the Russians c;inie tliere ;uul ordered them to shii) all their 

 catch to Russia, and, on their lefusal, their two Chiefs were killed by the Russians. 



In the same year, w^hile the Chief of Rashua, together with a host of natives, were 

 hunting in Urup, the Russians again made their appearance, and seized all their 

 catch at the point of their guns. At lasfc the anger of the natives was aroused 

 to such a pitch by the Russian outrages that they resolved to avenge themselves, 

 and in 1771 they gathered in great numbers, each carrying some weapon, and 

 attacked the Russians in Urup, killing eight of them; and thence from the western 

 coast they passed over the mountains to Wanino, where they attacked some Rus- 

 sians who were living in caves. Only se^'eu of the Russians escaped slaughter. 

 From that jjlace the natives sailed to Makarusi, where they also slaughtered seven- 

 teen Russians. 



At that time the chief instruments used by the natives for killing seals were the 

 bow and harpoon, while the Russians used guns. 



After this defeat the Russians did not come for a long time. 



During the years of the Anyei period (1772-80) the natives of Urup were con- 

 stantly cruizing and hunting round Urup and its neighbouring islands, and this pre- 

 vented the Russians from catching seals so freely, although now and then they made 

 their appearance But towards the end of the Anyei period they came in a great 

 number, and made a good catch. 



In the years of Tenmei (1781-88), as the natives ceased to hunt for seals, all the 

 islands of the Knriles except Itrui) were monopolized by the Russi:ins. 

 101 In 1795 Government caused some thirty men and women to emigrate to Itrup, 



and there were good catches made. Nets were then first used. 



In 1800 Takataya Kah6, a native of Awaji, emigrated to Itrnp, and there employ- 

 ing the natives started a settlement for seal-hunting and other fisheries. 



In the years of Kiowa (1801-3), Snwara Koyemon and Dat6 Riuyemon, of Fuku- 

 yama, Matsnmay6 having taken over the fishing establishment and jdants from 

 Takataya Kahe, and building new fishing depots in several places, carried on the 

 fishing of sea animals. 



At that time the seal-skins were bartered with the natives as follows, viz. : 



The best ^ 20 sacks of rice (each sack containing 8 sho*) per skin; the mid- 

 dling ^ about 10 sacks, and the common skins were severally valued according to 

 their qualities; and the natives were paid according to the skins they ^jroducetl at 

 the time of counting their catch. The skins thus bought were called "karimono," 

 and were annually sent to the Prince of Matsumayc, whoso Government ])aid for 

 them at the fixed rate of 0.56 sen for 1 sho of rice, which was the standard of barter; 

 and there were strict penal regulations against smugglers. 



In the years of Keio (1865-67) the Russian Government sent Ahiskan natives to 

 Urup, and the Russian fishing settlement became more and more prosperous. 



Seal-skins were a special product of Japan, and from olden times they were trans- 

 ported to Nagasaki, where they were sold to the Chinese. 



In modern times seals and other sea animals, once famous products of Japan, being 

 mostly caught by the Russian hands, are now looked on as Russian products, and 

 are imported into Peking direct from Russia. 



In 1869, at the time when "Kaitakushi" (Colonization Department) was newly 

 established, its branch office was set up in the Island of Itrup, and some officials 

 were sent in order to check foreign poachers, and superintend the fishing industry. 

 As to the mode of buying skins, the old regulations were adopted, but on account of 

 the old rate of exchange at 1 sho of rice at 0.56 sen being out of date, the fisheries 

 incurred much loss. In April 1873 the official rate was raised to 1.68 sen per 1 sho. 



In June of the same year for the first time a special ofiQce was established in Itrup, 

 whose duty it was to suppress seal-poaching, and Commissioners were sent there. 

 In August instructions were given to these Commissioners to keep strict vigilance 

 as to poaching-vessels of foreign countries and the unlawful sale of seals in the 

 vicinity of the island. 



As seals mostly congregated in the seas neighbouring to Itrup, the ingress of for- 

 eign vessels to those waters, not only Russian, but also British, American, Dutch, 

 and other countries, increased year after year, and oftentimes these vessels used to 

 anchor in the neighbouring harbours. 



In such cases the Commissioners informed them of the national prohibition, and 

 requested them to leave, but under such pretexts as ship's repairs, or want of water 

 and fuel, they did not obey the remonstrances, and wlien there was a shipwreck, 

 which occurred very often, it gave a great deal of trouble and annoyance to the Com- 

 missioners, who had to look after the wrecked crews, and to have them escorted to 

 the port of Hakodate. 



* 1 sho is equal to 0.1985 peck. 



