A NEW FUR-SEAL ROOKERY 
171 
In 1882 I paid a visit to England via the United 
States, and, as I had discovered the new fur-seal 
rookery and made a good catch, I was the recipient 
of more than ordinary attention from those interested 
in the fur-seal trade, both in America and in England. 
I made all arrangements before leaving Japan to 
send away my vessel again as soon as the season 
opened ; I also took shares in another vessel then 
being built for the business. 
Thirteen schooners sailed for the hunting-grounds 
that season, but otter-hunting was very much neg¬ 
lected owing to nearly everyone hanging about the 
vicinity of the seal rookeries waiting for the seals to 
haul up. Finally several entered into a compact to 
go away hunting the sea-otter, the others to remain 
and exploit the rookery when the seals arrived, the 
catches to be pooled and divided up at the end of the 
season. Hunters were changed over into the different 
vessels in order to check the catches made, and each 
went its way. About 120 otters were taken alto¬ 
gether. The syndicate of schooners got 1,050 seals 
and 16 otters each as the result of their pooling. 
Two boats’ crews were lost in a heavy tide-rip whilst 
hunting an otter off the south-west end of Urup. 
The otter-hunting season was free from any 
stirring incidents, but before returning to port several 
vessels visited Robben Island for seals, the story of 
which I hope to record elsewhere. 
