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Illustration of Sea Otter Hunting in Chishima Province

mominaina

Illustration of Sea Otter Hunting in Chishima Province

Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections, "Dainippon Bussan Zue, Volume 2"

The sea otter has such soft fur that if you draw a pattern on it with your finger, the shape remains for a short while. Its skin is made into hats, which are highly prized by people. They are produced in large numbers in Chishima and Urup Island. The natives make a boat shaped like a dried bonito out of the whole skin, with three holes cut into it large enough for a person's body to fit through. They attach leather sleeves to the holes to prevent water from entering the boat, and one person holds the oar while two others use harpoons to stab and catch the sea otters floating on the sea.

Three holes are cut into the boat, which is shaped like a dried bonito, large enough for a person's body to fit through.
To prevent water from entering the boat, leather sleeves are attached to the holes.
One person holds the oar, and two others use harpoons to stab and catch the sea otters floating on the sea.



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