HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 95 



which extends from the mountain slope where it is about 

 two miles broad for some five or six miles, gradually 

 narrowing to a point. The last two miles have been 

 breached by the sea, giving it the appearance of a row 

 of steep and rugged islands. 



The mountain peaks of black igneous rock are shrouded 

 in snow and mist during the greater part of the year, and 

 it is only on the lower ground that stunted pine, birch, and 

 alder are met with. Great beds of kelp, the favourite haunt 

 of the sea otter, extend along both sides of the island, but 

 the almost perpetual fog makes hunting as precarious as 

 the turbulence of sea and storm render it difficult. The 

 river otter and fox are the only land animals found on 

 Urup, for, unlike Yetorup, there are no bears. Leopard and 

 other seals are numerous and there is a rookery of sea lions 

 at the south-west end close to Cape Nobunots. 



My old companion, Captain Snow, mentions in his 

 " Notes on the Kurile Islands," published in 1897, that the 

 remains of several old wrecks are to be found on the south- 

 east coast. Close to Cape Nobunots on a ledge of rock and 

 boulders beneath the cliffs is a large ship's anchor and some 

 : chain all that is left of a whaler which was lost there 

 many years ago. Towards the north-east end is part of the 

 hull of another, whilst further along the bleached timbers of 

 another may be seen. In the summer of 1891 a Japanese 

 hunting schooner was lost with all hands on the north-east 

 point. 



Things below were in a deplorable state ; the cabin table 

 and one of the forms had broken loose and were lying legs 

 up, rifles had been thrown from the racks, and the destruc- 

 tion of crockery considerable ; but tired as we were, we 

 were yet more hungry. 



It was Saturday night since we had partaken of a regular 

 meal, and this was Wednesday, so the table was refixed, 

 the cook was roused to make hot coffee, and we dined after 

 a fashion on sardines and mixed pickles. The skipper, who 

 naively remarked that he always " went a pile" on hot things, 



