iv PREFACE. 



hours of fine weather is a matter of rare occurrence. Cold 

 and wet alternate during the greater part of each month, 

 while such stray sunshine as occasionally relieves the 

 dulness, however cheering at the moment, is in reality but 

 a further aggravation of the hunter's discomfort by 

 scorching the skin into a state of tenderness ill-adapted 

 to facing the salt spray and chilling gales that succeed 

 each other so rapidly in these latitudes. 



Beyond a short description in some American Govern- 

 ment reports, there is no work devoted exclusively to sea 

 otter hunting, and this must be my excuse for venturing 

 into print, both tastes and pursuits having led me more to 

 the contemplation of Nature's works than to the use of the 

 pen and the acquisition of what is demanded in literary 

 composition. 



My very best thanks are due to my nephew, Mr. Malcolm 

 H. Beattie, for his care and patience with illustrations and 

 reproduction of sketches. 



ALEX. ALLAN. 



