232 RKPORT OF BRITISH COMMISSIONERS. 



TIh', islaud of Sliikotau is 18 li in ciiciiinfereiice, and lias a jrood natural harbour. 

 In old times n\an,v natives nsed to ininii<irato, and the ])ei>i)le of the niaiulan<l also 

 used to come for lishing ])uri)oses; but. owinsjj to the dii'lirulty of communication, 

 almost all of them crossed over to Hk^ neii;hbourhood of Nemnro; and at the i)resent 

 time it is rare to tind any inhabitants iu tlie island. Thus the island became a jjcood 

 shelter for f()rci<;n ])oachcrs, and many vessels made the harbour their rcstini^-placo 

 whence to sail, and w lieu the time and wind \v(Me fax ourable for their unlawful acts. 

 Accordingly, some Sui)erintcndin,n Commissioners were sent o\ei- to <(uar<l the 

 neighbourhood. 



In June an olhce-honse and a store-house were built in the 15ay of Tankamu, in the 

 county of I'^urubetsu, Itruj). 



In July His Imjierial Majesty's ship "Moslinu'" cruized about the Island of Itrup 

 in search of poachcis. 



In August, in consideration of the diligence and hardships of the auperintendino- 

 oflicials of Krui) in discharge of their duty, day and nin'ht through all seasons, a 

 sub-regulation was made rewarding them by special grants of money, elassitied 

 according to the nu-rit of each individual. 



In May 187S, in conse(iuence of much inconvenieuce having been experienced by 

 the oflicials in discharge of their duty on account of the dilferences of language on 

 such occasions as when interviewing foreigu vessels or making iinjuiry as to foreign 

 ]ioachers, tlic following instructious wer(( given to tlie su[)erintcn(liug officials iu 

 iShikotan, and were ])oste(l in cons])icnous j)laces, written in foreign languages, \iz: 



"1. This island is the Island of Shikotau, county of Hanasaki, Nemuro, Hok- 

 kaido, belonging to tlie Empire of Japan, 



"2. You are re(|ueste(l to report in detail, in writing, the nationality of vessel, 

 its name and that ol' the captain, the number of crew, and the reason of coming. 

 If for temporary ani^horage, in want of water or fuel, or in (^onseciuence of wind or 

 tide, you are reijuested to leave as soon as your wants are satistied or the weather 

 becomes favourable. 



" Hunting of sea animals is ])rohibited in tlie neighbouring seas." 



The skins of the seals prepared according to the mode of the locality were very 

 thin, and the process of tanniug was imperfect. In .lune of tlie same year a skilled 

 tanner of TnkiA was consulted, and it was adviseil that the skins shall be left as 

 thick as ])ossible, and to prevent the change of fur-colonr, that they should be 

 painted w ith coal-water in siuh a manner as to allow the colour of the leather to be 

 seen, and when dry to be painted again twice iu the same way. In suunuer, there 

 being fear of moth, they were to be painted with camphor-water after being painted 

 with coal-water. 



Heretofore, as there was no restriction as to the mode of seal-huTiting, and fears 

 were entertained of the extermination of the species by wanton hunting, Hunting 

 Regulations were issued iu October with a view to promote the increase of seals, as 

 well as to check poaching; and four superintending officials and thirty-six hunters 

 were added. 



The Regulations rnn as follows: 



"Article 1. In view of protecting seal-hunting and checking foreigu poachers, a 

 vessel of foreign type shall be commissoned to cruize in the ueighbonrliood of Itiuji. 

 'Chishimamaru ' shall be commissoucil for this pur))()se for the time being. 



"Art. 2. The mode of killing shall mainly be by clubbing, and the use of guns 

 shall be avoided as much as ])ossible. 



"Art. 3. Young seals shall be spared as much as possible. 



"Art. 4. The number of seals to be caught within 1 ri of coast-line shall not 

 exceed forty-five per annum. 



"Art. 5. IJetween the months of Maj'^ and November the killing of seals within 1 

 ri of coast-line is prohibited. 



"Art. G. Any person who catches wounded or crippled seals washed ashore, even 

 Avithin the prohibition limit, shall be paid iu money or in kind according to the 

 quality of the skin. 



"Art. 7. To prevent the decrease of seals by careless chasing and w^uiton killing, 

 special care shall always be taken, and the preventive method shall be established. 



"Art. 8. The number of seals taken w'ill be inspected, and their skins shall tix the 

 proof of their ages. 



"Art. 9. The covering and breeding seasons, &c., shall be carefully ascertained 

 by practical observations. 



"Art. 10. Practical observations and investigations shall be made as to the truth 

 of the seals losing or changing the colour of their fur according to different seasons. 



"Art. 11. An actual investigation shall be made as to how many seals can be 

 caught annually if the use of guns be discontinued, and clubs and bows and arrows 

 bo adopted instead. 



"Art. 12. While out hnuting, if anything orcnrs* likely to form an object for future 

 investigation, a minute record shall be kept. 



