228 A SHOOTING TRIP TO KAMCHATKA 



defence of Russian interests," Such was the farce 

 which we were very sorry not to have witnessed. In 

 the course of conversation I directed the Ispravnik's 

 attention to the proceedings of the Seal Fisheries 

 Co., so detrimental in every respect to the native 

 population. To this he replied that he had already 

 drafted a report on the subject, which he was about to 

 submit to the Governor at Vladivostok, whose decision 

 could in no event be made public before next summer. 

 In the meanwhile the unhappy Kamchadales would 

 have to starve, and Heaven only knows how they got 

 through that winter, W'hile Vasska was preparing 

 dinner (the wretch was now in great terror of being- 

 skinned alive, his countrymen being at war with 

 Russia, and everyone threatening him), we walked 

 alone the beach, and witnessed an uncommonly i>ood 

 haul just outside the harbour. More than two hundred 

 liaiko, averaging lo lbs., were caught in a quarter of 

 an hour. Close to us seals (which the natives call 

 ncrpa) kept popping their heads out of the water, and 

 diving away at our sight. 



Snow had by this time entirely disappeared from 

 the surrounding hills, and the same strong southerly 

 wind blew incessantly from nine a.m. to six p,m,, 

 when a dead calm ensued. That night we slept 

 soundly, free from anxiety respecting our journey 



