Sea-Otter. 



140 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



torical interest, since it has been the chief cause which led the 

 Kussians from Ochotzk to Kamtschatka, and from thence over 



the Aleut chain to the op- 

 posite coast of America. 



The Aleut islanders 

 show a wonderful dexte- 

 rity in the capture of this 

 animal. In April or May 

 they assemble at an ap 

 pointed spot in their light 

 skin-boats, or baidars, and 

 choose one of the most 

 respected tamols, or chiefs, for the leader of the expedition, 

 which generally numbers from fifty to a hundred boats. Such 

 hunting-parties are annually organised from the Kurile Islands 

 to Kadjack, and consequently extend over a line of three thousand 

 miles. On the first fine day the expedition sets out, and proceeds 

 to a distance of about forty wersts from the coast, when the 

 baidars form into a long line, leaving an interval of about two 

 hundred and fifty fathoms from boat to boat as far as a sea-otter 

 diving out of the water can be seen; so that a row of thirty 

 baidars occupies a space of from ten to twelve wersts. When 

 the number of the boats is greater, the intervals are reduced. 

 Every man now looks upon the sea with concentrated attention. 

 Nothing escapes the penetrating eye of the Aleut; in the smallest 

 black spot appearing but one moment over the surface of the 

 waters, his experienced glance at once recognises a sea-otter. 

 The baidar which first sees the animal, rows rapidly towards the 

 place where the creature dived, and now the Aleut, holding his 

 oar straight up in the air, remains motionless on the spot. Im- 

 mediately the whole squadron is in motion, and the long straight 

 line changes into a wide circle, the centre of which is occupied 

 by the baidar with the raised oar. The otter not being able 

 to remain long under water, reappears, and the nearest Aleut 

 immediately greets him with an arrow. This first attack is 

 seldom mortal ; very often the missile does not even reach its 

 over-distant mark, and the sea-otter instantly disappears. Again 

 the oar rises from the next baidar ; again the circle forms, but 

 this time narrower than at first; the fatigued otter is obliged to 

 come oftener to the surface, arrows fly from all sides, and finally 



