1 6 YESSO. 



Before leaving Nemero, I see in my notes that on 

 the last day of May I found a sweet-scented little 

 clustering primrose of a most delicate pink colour, also 

 a blue species of foxglove, and that lilies of the valley 

 were shooting through the earth. Raspberries and 

 strawberries, though only of small size, were plentiful ; 

 and amongst a few other flowers, a sweet-scented rose 

 grew on the sandy hillocks along the shore. 



Oteranai, a settlement on the west coast, is the only 

 other place worth mentioning. Here there is good 

 anchorage, and the country round presents an excellent 

 scope for agricultural enterprise. The Iskari, the largest 

 river in Yesso, enters the sea about fifteen miles north- 

 east of the settlement. For some miles up the river, the 

 bank, in places, and on one side, is prepared for salmon 

 fishing. Long drying-sheds, with a house for the fisher- 

 men to live in, are erected just above the artificially 

 sloped banks. The seine used has the bag attached by 

 a slip-line, and on its coming on shore full of fish, is thus 

 easily and quickly slipped off, and another put on imme- 

 diately. In this way no time is lost. It was the end of 

 July when I visited the river, and no signs of the com- 

 mencement of fishing were visible. I was told, and from 

 my own observation believe it to be correct, that not 

 until the end of August do the salmon enter the river, 



