HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 73 



time being occupied in breaching at a great pace, until 

 eventually the dives became shorter, and longer time had 

 to be taken for getting breath, until a well-directed shot in 

 the head from Snow's rifle put an end to his life, as well as 

 to one of the longest and most exciting chases during the 

 whole of our cruise. The otter, an old, white-headed bull, 

 proved one of the largest and gamest we were destined to 

 meet with. The sun, which was high in the heavens, had 

 become quite powerful, so we rested for ten minutes to 

 give the men time for a smoke and to wipe off the per- 

 spiration that trickled down their swarthy faces. Another 

 otter was soon sighted, which, being encumbered with a 

 very young pup, soon succumbed ; the maternal instincts 

 aroused by its plaintive wailing prevented her from 

 deserting or, by taking too long dives, from drowning it, 

 until a well-aimed shot put an end to her life and anxiety. 

 This hunt was in great contrast to the first, and was 

 objectionable to all of us as savouring of cruelty. The 

 feeling of a true sportsman is always strongly opposed to 

 the destruction of any wild animal under such conditions, 

 tigers, perhaps, excepted. But the costly preparations and 

 heavy outlay demanded for such work as otter hunting, the 

 continual danger of shipwreck, and the risks run in the 

 boats must not be lost sight of ; while, further, the shortness 

 of the hunting season, the prevalence of gales and fogs 

 give to the sea otter an amount of protection and extent of 

 "close" season which will, I trust, go far to extenuate, if 

 not excuse, a practice universal among those who follow 

 this dangerous occupation. 



At mid-day we fastened the boats together, and made a 

 frugal and hasty dinner of bread and cheese, moistened 

 with a bottle each of excellent Bass, the natives stuffing 

 themselves with rice and fish. Luncheon over, we 

 succeeded, after an exciting hunt, in getting another large 

 bull otter, quickly followed by another, about half grown, 

 but with a beautiful skin, the latter just in time, as a stiff 

 breeze sprang up, bringing in its train a thick fog; it was 



