JAPANESE SHORE STATIONS 



plowed her way through the beautiful islet-dotted 

 waters of the Inland Sea to Oshima, famous in Jap- 

 anese history. 



At Oshima I made my home with Mr. Ikeda, the 

 manager, and his wife, in a delightful little house 

 Duilt into the side of a hill which overlooked the beauti- 

 ful bay with the village of Kishimoto on the opposite 

 shore. I have lived with many people in many lands 

 ivhile wandering about the world, but never have I had 

 i host or hostess who did more to further my work 

 md personal comfort than these two delightful Jap- 

 mese. 



The whales are handled in such an unusual way in 

 fapan that there was much to learn about the indus- 

 try itself. The stations are usually situated not far 

 From the feeding grounds of the animals, in or near 

 :>ne of the little fishing villages which dot the coast 

 In every bay or harbor. Eight or ten large wooden 

 Duildings compose the factory, and there is always a 

 long wharf projecting into deep water, at the end 

 }f which stand upright a pair of long heavy poles 

 nclined forward and joined at their extremities by 

 i massive crosspiece; from this are suspended the 

 clocks through which run wire cables from the steam 

 winch. 



In some instances the whales are drawn out upon 

 :he slip in the Norwegian way, but the more usual 

 Japanese method is a modification of that used by 

 :he deep-sea whalers; the animals are cut in while 

 ying in the water, the poles at the end of the wharf 

 Deing substituted for the masts of a ship. 



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