34 — 
m 
of sound that resembled the bleating of a band of sheep in the distance. 
It is this no doubt that has given shearwaters of this group the name of 
"mutton-bird” in Australian waters* 
She snail number of birds here, aside from the shearwaters, is 
to be attributed without doubt to the activity of plumage hunters who 
woriced here perhaps to better advantage than on Aaysan. Ruins of seme 
old sheds f noar the center of the lsland \ of Japan ese origin^ marked 
the former site of their camps. As Lisianski is out of the usual path 
os* itwr 1 - 
of the few ships that pass through those waters, poachers unquoafe lombly 
woriced here for a long time without discovery. 
A view of the life of the surrounding sea offered a welcome contrast 
to the somewhat dismal aspect of the land. IVo were struck: in particular 
by the large number of sea turtles that were present. Shallow coves along 
the beaches were filled with luxuriant growths of alg^o, submerged fields 
of green icept in constant motion by passing waves. Amid these plants browsod 
dozens of turtles worl rl iig- i l nw l y at intervals thrusting their heads 
up for air and then descending to oontinue their feeding. When satisfied 
they crawled clumsily out on the sloping sands to lie in peaceful sleep. 
On one occasion I counted 80, from fifteen inches to four feet long, in 
walking a distanoe of 300 yards along the boaoh. Others feeding a few yards 
off shore were hidden by ripples on the water and so escaped this casual 
census. Iheir only enemies seemed to be sharks; occasionally 1 saw one 
with one flipper torn away, with the bones of the upper limb exposed. We 
killed a number for food and found one filled with eggs nearly ready to be 
deposited. 
