5£ I HE STELLER. 



forcibly upon the rocks, among which these beasts 

 are entangled and killed. In the winter they be- 

 come so thin, that in addition to the back bones, all 

 the ribs may be counted through the skin.* 



They are caught with a large iron hook, whose 

 extremity resembles the fluke of an anchor; the other 

 end has a ring to which a strong rope is secured. A 

 strong man takes this hook, and in company with 

 four or five others goes into a boat, which is slowly 

 rowed towards the herd. The bearer of the hook 

 stands in the prow of the boat, and as soon as he comes 

 near enough, strikes it into one of the animals. 

 Thirty or more persons on shore then get hold of 

 the rope and drag the struggling victim towards the 

 land. Those in the boat make themselves fast to 

 the beast with another rope; and so fatigue it by 

 repeated blows, until it becomes quiet, and then is 

 despatched by spears, knives, and other weapons, 

 and drawn on shore. Some cut huge pieces out of 

 the living animal, which only provoked it to vibrate 

 its tail, and struggle with its fore limbs so violent- 



* " Vernali tempore more humano coeunt, ac praecipue 

 circa vesperam tranquillo mari; antequam vero congrediun- 

 tur praeludia multa venerea prsemittunt; foemella placide 

 natat hinc et inde in mari, mas vero semper sequitur; hunc 

 foemella tarn diu multis gyrps et meandris eludit, donee 

 morse ulterioris ipsa inpatiens, velut delassata ac coacta, se 

 in dorsum resupinet, quo facto mas furiose superveniens 

 Hbidinis tributum solvit, ac ambo in mutuos amplexus ru- 

 unt." Steller ut supra. 



