5G REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



however, not to fish in deeper water than 5 " sagenes," (35 feet,) lest the 

 net, which is only 6 " sagenes " (42 feet) deep, as has been said before, 

 should prove useless. 



At first, the boats row without order ; but as soon as they approach the 

 orcse, they place themselves in the following manner : the two middle 

 boats approach each other and remain in the rear, while the others ad- 

 vance to the right and left, keeping at a distance of 120 " sagenes " (81 

 feet) from each other, i. e., almost the length of the seine. In order that 

 the fishing should be successful, it is necessary that the boats should 

 advance, remaining always two and two, at the same depth ; afterward, 

 they must halt at some distance from the orcse, and cast all the nets at 

 the same time, after having tied them to each other. In this manner, 

 the orcse are surrounded, and endeavor in vain to break through. The 

 circle is constantly growing narrower, and the orcae are finally har- 

 pooned with fish-gigs having short handles, which are easily detached. 

 The iron of the fish-gig is not beyond the fisherman's control, as it is 

 ioined to the hand by a cord used for pulling up the instrument and 

 the pierced orca. 



If the orcce enter iut j a small bay, their retreat is cut off by means of 

 large stationary seines, and they are easily captured. 



Hunting the walrus and the polar bear. — About a dozen sailing-ves- 

 sels devote themselves habitually to hunting the walrus from Cape 

 Kanine to the mouth of the Kara. Every boat can carry 500 " pouds," 

 (18,000 pounds,) and is manned by ten huntsmen, mostly inhabitants of 

 Mezene and the Petshora Basin ; sometimes, also, by well-to-do Samo- 

 yeds. The " Zyriauy " and the poor Samoyeds serve among the Rus- 

 sians as laborers for very small pay and food. 



In order not to expose these badly-built and badly-rigged boats to the 

 dangers of the ocean, they are transported to the open sea, a distance 

 of at least three hundred "versts" (one hundred and seventy-three 

 miles) on sleighs drawn by reindeer. The expenses of this transporta- 

 tion, which are considerable, are repaid to the master, as he, besides 

 receiving his share for each boat, receives three more portions of the 

 whole product of the chase, which is divided into ten portions. The wal- 

 rus-chase, in general, is but slightly productive. Scarcely more than 

 six hundred of these animals are killed during a year. There are not 

 sufficient funds to equip boats and to pay skillful and experienced 

 huntsmen. 



The polar bears live on the ice, on the islands, or on the coast. An 

 experienced huntsman lets the animal approach within ten paces before 

 he fires. If the bear is only wounded, the huntsman draws his huutiug- 

 kuif'e, avoids the attack of the furious animal by leaping aside, and the 

 moment he finds himself behind the bear he kills him. Nothing is more 

 curious than the guns with which these hardy huntsmen attack the 

 polar bears ; they are simply manufactured by the village-smith ! If 

 the gun is not discharged, and the bear escapes, the huntsman values 



