FRUITLESS NEGOTIATIONS 
123 
these mishaps, the schooner Kaiso drifted ashore in 
a calm, and became a total wreck ; and the Japanese 
gunboat Tabo-lcan was lost on the south-west end of 
Yetorup. 
There being no chance of getting away for the 
hunting season of 1875, I turned my attention to 
trying, in conjunction with a Japanese merchant 
of Hakodate, backed by my friend Blakiston, to 
secure hunting rights on Yetorup from the Japanese 
Government, for which we were prepared to pay a 
handsome sum in cash yearly, or a percentage of 
our catch, the Government to give us assistance in 
protecting the hunting-grounds. The catch was to 
be limited so as to prevent the extermination of the 
otters. Whaling from the shore was also to be 
undertaken. Negotiations dragged on, and money 
was expended, as is inevitable when endeavouring 
to get anything of this nature (or any other, for that 
matter) put through in Japan. 
In July, 1875, the merchant interested informed 
me that the concession for hunting had been secured. 
This was good news, and I sat up all night drawing 
up agreements. Five days later some Japanese 
documents were brought to me, more money being 
wanted. I did not think it wise to pay up without 
making inquiries at the Kaitakushi Office in Tokyo, 
but after some delay agreed to make another ad¬ 
vance.. No further progress was made, so I went 
to Tokyo and had an interview with Mr. N., the 
chief of the Kaitakushi Department. Time being 
of no consequence in Japan, negotiations dragged 
on into 1876, and finally, at a last interview, I stated 
that if no concession could be granted I would be 
willing to act as adviser, superintend, and take 
