62 HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 



because the aching fingers refused to do their duty, are not 

 easily forgotten ; but as two are always carried in each boat, 

 with the Winchester to fall back upon, no change is really 

 required, except on the score of comfort, a consideration 

 little studied by the otter hunter. Moreover, the time 

 between the divings of the animal is generally sufficient for 

 the purpose of loading. In a description of the fur-seal 

 already given, there is an explanation of the term 

 " breaching." It is on such occasions that rapid snap- 

 shooting is the order of the day and the Winchester is in 

 request. Besides these two different kinds of rifles we had 

 others by Rigby, Holland, Spencer, Ballard, and a Swiss 

 match rifle, all of which, though good of their kind, were 

 ill-adapted for our purpose. 



The following will give an idea of the method of hunting : 

 After a hasty breakfast, often by lamplight, the three boats 

 were hoisted out and provisioned for the day, with sails, 

 ammunition, rifles, and compass carefully seen to, we put off 

 from the side as the first streaks of dawn began to light up 

 the eastern sky.' Proceeding in line with an interval of 

 two or three hundred yards between each boat, according 

 to the more or less foggy state of the atmosphere, each hunter 

 standing upon the foremost thwart, a sharp look out was 

 kept until an otter was seen, when the observer raising his 

 paddle in the air to signify to the others that he had 

 " found," rows straight for him as hard as his men can send 

 the boat through the water. Should the otter be lying on 

 its back, with eyes consequently but little raised above the 

 surface of the water, the hunter may at times approach 

 within a hundred yards, or even less, of his prey, and with 

 a single, well-directed shot may, to use an Irishism, put an 

 end to the chase before it had commenced. But so acute 

 are the senses of these animals that as a rule, except when 

 there is a heavy sea on, before the boat has arrived at twice 

 that distance the otter is on the alert, and might be seen 

 craning his head and neck above the water, observing with 

 alarm and, unfortunately for him, considerable curiosity, 



