A NEW FUR-SEAL ROOKERY 
153 
away any distance, and can thus be returned for 
after the first load has been taken on shore. The 
same method is adopted when turtles are captured 
without the aid of a captive 44 cow ”; they are 
approached when engaged in their love affairs, 
but more caution has to be used in 44 going on” 
to 44 free turtle.” Many 44 cow” turtles are taken 
when they haul up on the beach to deposit their eggs. 
They were very plentiful at the Bonins in the days 
I mention, but are comparatively scarce now. 
The Bonin Islands lie 500 miles south of Yoko¬ 
hama. They enjoy a warm climate ; the tempera¬ 
ture when I was there early in March ranged from 
80° to 85° F. 
Two hunters were engaged, and returned with 
me on the steamer to Yokohama. On March 29 
we sailed for the hunting-grounds, and on April 6 
ran into South-East Bay, Shikotan, and filled 
up with wood and water. Next day we lowered 
boats, and 44 raised ” two otters, one of which we 
killed. We left Shikotan on April 8, the weather 
being very cold, with a heavy west-north-west gale 
on that and the following day. On the 21st it 
blew a heavy south-east gale. We were lying in 
Roko Bay on a lee shore, and before the gale 
reached us a heavy swell set in, with not enough 
wind to enable us to get under way. We were 
anchored in foul ground, and our cable, getting 
round a rock, snapped as the schooner rose on a 
swell. Luckily, the sails were got up, and the wind 
came just in time to keep us from going ashore ; 
it was the narrowest shave imaginable, as we were 
practically in the breakers, and the letting go of 
another anchor would have been fatal. We beat 
