FIRST EXPERIENCES 
05 
sloop called the White Falcon . She was manned by 
four men, two of whom had run away from the 
American otter-hunting schooner Lizzie, and had 
made their way to Hakodate in a junk, where they 
persuaded the owner of this sloop to fit them out 
and go to Yetorup, otter-hunting. They had one 
small boat on board, and intended to winter on the 
island. Fate was against them. They anchored 
rather too near the beach, a heavy swell began to 
roll in, and, though they attempted to get under 
way, there was not enough wind, and the vessel 
was thrown on the beach, where she soon broke up. 
We took the men on board, and not long after started 
to return to port. We had forty-six large and 
twenty-five small otters. 
The constant strain caused by the heavy blows 
had affected the old Swallow so badly that the plank¬ 
ing under her fore chain-plates began to open up. 
This was well above water, and she did not leak 
except when lying well over in a strong breeze. We 
sailed down to the island of Shikotan, putting in to 
what the hunters called “ Frying-pan Bay,” where 
we lay for some days, the old skipper being very 
sick. Some of the crew did not like the idea of 
venturing to return to Hakodate in the vessel, so it 
was resolved to make for Nemuro, on the east coast 
of Yezo, distant about sixty miles. On arrival there 
the intention was to beach the vessel, take everything 
out of her, and have it sent down to Hakodate by 
junk or steamer, if one should come in, while all 
hands went overland. The old skipper advised that 
the vessel should be burnt after all her copper and 
other fittings of value had been taken out of her. 
This was one of the most absurd proposals ever made. 
5 
