YESSO. 9 



island. By the 13th of the month a great change had 

 taken place, summer had commenced. The buds had 

 burst, the first flowers- were showing, succulent grass 

 had sprung up, and the early trees were green in a few 

 days. The transition from almost winter to the first 

 flush of summer was very sudden. On account, how- 

 ever, of the ever-occurring fogs, the sun's rays seldom 

 reached the earth, and in consequence the warmth it 

 receives is comparatively slight. Wone of the few seeds 

 which the Japanese had sown or endeavoured to culti- 

 vate came to anything. The whole country is almost 

 entirely covered with primeval forest, which is chiefly 

 stunted oak and birch. The only tree which appeared 

 to flourish and reach perfection, was the Pinus j'esso- 

 niensis, a grand and lovely species. In the few open 

 glades, single trees, and clumps of half a dozen or so, 

 grew to perfection. 



The object of the Japanese settlement here is to 

 collect and cure the hard roe of the herring, and boil 

 down for manure the rest of the fish. In May and June 

 this fish appears in incredible numbers. The straits, 

 bays, and creeks appear alive with them. They are in 

 such numbers, that those nearest the beach are pushed 

 out of the water, and the shore for miles is thus 

 kept constantly replenished with fresh fish; countless 

 numbers of seagulls, eagles, crows, besides foxes, wolves. 



