2 74 A SHOOTING TRIP TO KAMCHATKA 



{Coi'regonus ccta) played the principal part, and was 

 being salted and smoked for exportation in millions. 

 Shoals of salmon were ascending- the river at this time 

 of year, everyone being busy at the fisheries, while nets 

 and traps might be seen all over the gulf. Over a 

 hundred Japanese smacks scoured the bay, hauling out 

 the fish and carrying it ashore as fast as they could. 

 No fresh information could be obtained here from the 

 agent of the Amur Navigation Company, whom we 

 approached next morning on the subject of the war, as 

 the town had been left without any post for the last 

 month ; all available steamers were being stopped at 

 Khabarovsk for pur[)oses of mobilisation. He made, 

 however, a most reassuring statement, namely, that one 

 of the Company's boats had managed to get through 

 the blockade, and was due at Nikolaievsk in a couple 

 of days, on the 14th of August, starting back to Khaba- 

 rovsk on the following evening. \\"e immediately 

 secured berths at the office, and proceeded to carry 

 over our belongings from the Tsitsikar to a "village 

 green " on the banks of the river, which we had care- 

 fully selected beforehand, and pitched our tents at that 

 place, on the outskirts of the town. 



We spent next day visiting Nikolaievsk, Its 

 broad, unpaved streets run parallel or at right angles 

 to the seashore, and are bordered by rows of small, 



