258 THE ASIATIC FUR-SEAL ISLANDS. 



question, intelligent though he may have been, as we are assured, had no idea of the 

 real signiflcauce of the big figures he handled,' or else his dates are sadly out. 



Knowing that there was really only one man who could furnish the necessary data 

 for a history of the Kuril Island seal rookeries, were he disposed to do so, viz, Oapt. H. 

 J. Snow, who both as an active participant and leader in the many expeditions of those 

 early days and as a man of unusual ability, literary and scientific, for the profession 

 he had chosen to follow, I was naturally anxiously awaiting his return to Yokohama 

 from his northern cruise last autumn. Fortunately he not only returned shortly before 

 our departure, but he was quite willing to tell what he knew and to answer the many 

 questions which Captain Moser and I jilied him with. He also kindly furnished us 

 with a "Memorandum of seals taken on the Kuril Islands, Eobben Island, and St. 

 Zona Island by otter bunting and sealing vessels," which he stated was not quite 

 complete. Since then he has sent me a new memorandum, for which he claims more 

 exactness, having had time to make further inquiries, and from this I publish appended 

 a detailed abstract. The following statement is chiefly based upon this memorandum : 



Numier of seals taken on the Kuril Islands between 18S1 and 1896, based chiefly on Captain Snorv's 



memorandum . 



1881. — As related above, Snow, in the Otome, took 5,000; the Kiva Elizabeth, 1,700, and the 

 natives about 1,000; together, 7,700; all on Srednoi, vrhile the Helena took 50 on Mushir 7, 750 



1882. — The Mary C. Bohm took 1,240 on Mushir. Snow in his memorandum next enumerates 5 

 schooners as having obtained 600 skins each on Srednoi, and one 250, but in conversation with 

 me he said that 7 schooners in that year had taken about 4,200 skins at that rock. To be on 

 the safe side I, therefore, adopt the smaller figure, or together 4 490 



1883. — According to Snow, only Japanese schooners visited Srednoi this year, securing in all 

 only 400 skins ; the schooner Penelope obtaAned 87 skins on Mushir. Captain Petersen, the 

 owner of the Diana, stated to us, however, that in 1883 he went to Mushir with two vessels, 

 one taking 600 and the other 200 seals, and that 7 schooners exploited Srednoi rocks. As his 

 dates and figures were from memory only, I have not ventured to alter Captain Snow's 

 definite figures 4jj7 



1884.— Five schooners visited the Kurils this year; 690 were taken on Srednoi, and 1,758 ou 

 Mushir. According to Snow the Diana got 1,250 skins. Captain Petersen himself gave 1,263 

 as the exact- number, making a total of 2 451 



1 The statements were, briefly, as follows : 



1877.— Seventeen sailing vessels fitted out for the Kurils and secured altogether 16,000 seals. The 

 Aino in question was on board the Noshinta Maru, which took 176 seals. 



1878.— Fifteen vessels from Yokohama took 7,600 fur seals and 89 sea otters. The Aino was on 

 the AttenM. 



1879.— Eighteen vessels from Yokohama took 7,000 seals and 47 sea otters. The Aino on same 

 vessel. 



1880.— Twenty-one vessels from Yokohama took 6,400 fur seals and 31 sea otters. Aino in Asae. 



1881.— Twenty-two vessels from Yokohama took 8,600 seals and 43 sea otters. Aino in Baener. 



1882.— Nineteen vessels took 8,600 seals and 47 sea otters. Aino in Takesima Mam. 



1883.— Number of vessls and total catch not stated. The Aino was in Mr. Taketomi's schooner 

 (name of vessel not given), which took 262 seals and 2 sea otters, all of which were confiscated by the 

 Government for illegal sealing. 



1884.— Vessels and catch not stated. Aino in the Diana; 2,400 seals, no sea otters. 



1885.— Fur seals, 4,564; sea otters, 58; all confiscated by the Government for illegal sealing. 

 The Aino this year went out on his own account, cooperating with other natives from Hakodate. 



It is possible that the above figures also embrace the number of winter skins taken by the natives 

 off the coast of Yezo. At all events, the references to the names of the vessels and the statement of the 



