HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 23 



into the sea, evidently afforded a favourable place for 

 refuge or repose. The food supply is here doubtless as 

 plentiful as varied, on account of the different temperatures 

 of the neighbouring waters. For the equatorial current of 

 about sixty degrees passes into the Sea of Japan, after 

 rushing through the Straits of Tsugaru at the rate of four or 

 five knots, and still keeps its easterly course till it meets 

 off this cape the colder Arctic current of thirty-six degrees 

 coming from Behring Straits. 



With a bright sun and clear sky overhead, a smooth and 

 glassy sea around, it was just the time to observe with 

 accuracy anything strange or unusual in the water ; in fact, 

 it only wanted the appearance of that periodical mystery, 

 the sea-serpent, to put a finishing touch to the scene. 

 And we were not to be disappointed ; for after having been 

 busy all the morning cutting out a cleat and rigging a reef 

 pennant to provide us with the means of reefing the main- 

 sail from the deck, and thus to prevent the chance of any 

 such mishap as had recently befallen, we had all turned in, 

 as we stood, for a few hours' sleep, when I was aroused by 

 the skipper calling me on deck and to bring a rifle quickly. 



Hastily snatching one from the rack, I was soon by his 

 side, and he pointed out right ahead and about two hundred 

 yards off, what to all appearance was an enormous serpent 

 lying coiled up asleep on the water. It certainly seemed 

 impossible to mistake it for anything else, for every fold 

 could be distinctly seen, several of them standing out so 

 high above the surface of the water that light was plainly 

 visible beneath. 



I could not help exclaiming, " By Jove, it is a serpent." 



"Wai," rejoined the skipper, not wishing to compromise 

 himself, " it certainly looks a sort of curio ; but wait a bit 

 till we get a little nearer, and then plug him I guess that 

 will make him clar up a bit; " and sure enough, in another 

 couple of minutes, both the mystery and the serpent did 

 " clar up." For just as the rifle was at my shoulder, the 

 mainsail gave a slight rustle, and in a moment, v/ith a 



