HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 77 



generally undertake this delicate operation. They are 

 provided with very sharp broad-bladed knives, rounded 

 from the point to a third of their length, the rest of the 

 blade being covered with a couple of folds of canvas, to 

 protect the hand ; an incision is made down the middle, 

 without piercing the skin, and the underlying substance 

 removed in opposite directions. 



In the afternoon the wind tacked, so we weighed anchor; 

 but as a calm came on we returned to our old position. 

 Monday, June ist, was as beautiful a day as mortal could 

 desire. Otters were, however, scarce, and we moved 

 farther up the coast at seven o'clock. Hoisting all sail, we 

 were soon bruising through the little sparkling waves as 

 they came curling across the bay under a breeze from the 

 north-west. When abreast of the bluff which guards the 

 northern extremity of the bay, the boats put off to row 

 along the shore, while the schooner proceeded to an 

 anchorage some distance out. This day we only succeeded 

 in getting one otter, a full-grown bull. At noon, the wind 

 went round to the old south-east quarter, but gradually fell 

 away; and by six o'clock, when we returned, it was dead 

 calm. The schooner we found anchored in fifteen fathoms 

 in a small exposed bay, alongside of the Lizzie, whose crew, 

 more fortunate than ourselves, had secured six otters. Our 

 want of success was accounted for by the fact that we had 

 been passing over the ground already hunted by them that 

 morning. Another beautiful morning with a gentle breeze 

 blowing, and a clear, bright sun overhead, enabled us to 

 leave the ship early, with the result that we returned with 

 two full-grown otters, but by eleven o'clock it had begun to 

 blow fresh from the south-west, compelling us to return ; and, 

 as there was no shelter should it increase to a gale, we got 

 under way and ran back to Jap Bay. When about half way, 

 however, it fell calm and the boats were again got out, but 

 without success ; for not an otter was to be seen. Mean- 

 while, the sky began to look very threatening, and we 

 returned to the vessel to find the glass rapidly falling, 



