1 62 HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 



that but a very short time before our arrival upon the 

 scene, for the sand around her was marked with fox or 

 bear tracks. One of the latter was so fresh that, after 

 getting the otter into one of the boats, we all then started 

 off after it, late as it was. The footprints were enormous, 

 and evidently belonged to a bear of great size ; but, after 

 following for some distance, the tracks crossed the stream 

 where it was too deep to ford, and, as the night was 

 drawing on, we were compelled to return. 



The bed of this stream, the water of which was as clear 

 as crystal, and in whose depths hundreds of small trout or 

 parr were disporting, looked like white sand, but which 

 we found to be pumice-stone, several lumps of which we 

 picked up on the margin and took aboard with us. 



When we regained the shore, and before re-embarking, 

 we found several deposits of black metallic sand, which 

 looked exactly like Curtis & Harvey's glazed gunpowder. 

 A sound chocolate tin, which we found opportunely jammed 

 amongst the rocks, was filled with it and taken with us. It 

 was found to be magnetic iron ore. After rowing some 

 little distance, we fired a shot, and were answered from 

 the schooner, which we soon found anchored not far from 

 where we were. We were all tired and hungry after our 

 long day, but well pleased, as we had managed to get three 

 otters, in spite of the fog and our early ill-luck. 



The little bay off which we were lying was made out by 

 the skipper to be about i\ miles long, lat. 45 8', long, 

 about 148, and the third bay east of the large rock (Arch 

 Rock) shown in sketch of anchorage of June lyth. A 

 hole or cave extends right through Arch Rock, but it is 

 only visible when approached from the south, and in the 

 illustration lies behind the schooner's mainsail. 



