ETHNOLOGY. 39" 



Tliis instrument is used only to cateli the young- of Pagomys fcetiduSy 

 while they are still in the white coats ; they are caught either while lying 

 beside the atluJc on the ice or while still in the snow- burrow. When an 

 Eskimo sees a young seal on the ice, he begins to make his way cautiously 

 toward it, sto])ping frequently, and giving the animal ample opportunity 

 to satisfy its curiosity. The seal will work its head and fore part of the 

 body in a jerky, awkward manner, and keep edging nearer and nearer 

 to its atlul- ; the Eskimo watches every movement of the seal, and knows 

 just the proper moment to advance a step or two and then stop. This 

 manoeuvre is kept up till he gets near enough to reach the seal with his 

 hook. He then makes a quick jump, at the same time striking the hook 

 into the animal. Sealing among the Cumberland Eskimo is sufficiently 

 described under our notes on Paf/omys fcetidns, in the report of the mam- 

 mals, for us to leave it out of this paper. 



When a seal-skin is about to be i)repared for drying, the blubber is 

 first removed somewhat roughly ; the skin is then laid on a board, and 

 with the woman's knife the membrane underneath the blubber is sep- 

 arated from the skin. The knife must be very sharji to do this success- 

 fully. The operators always push the knife from them ; it takes consid- 

 erable experience in order to do the job well. When all the blubber is 

 removed, which will take three or four hours of faithful work, the skin 

 is taken outside, and by means of the feet is rolled and rubbed around 

 in the snow for some time, and by this process they succeed in removing 

 every trace of grease from the hair. When thoroughly washed, the skin 

 is put upon the stretchers, if it be winter, to dry ; these stretchers ar& 

 merely four poles, which are lashed together at the corners like a quilt- 

 frame, the proper distance apart to suit the size of the skin. The skhi 

 is secured in place by seal-skin thongs passed through little slits along* 

 its edges and made fast to the poles. When the skin is properly stretched 

 upon the frame, it is put above the lamps inside the snow-hut to dry. As 

 the sun gets higher and begins to have some effect, the skins aro 

 stretched, flesh side up, on the southern slopes of snow-banks, and aro 

 secured by means of wooden or bone i)egs about a foot in length. As 

 the season advances and the snow melts they begin to stretch the skins 

 upon the ground by means of the before-mentioned pegs. The skins 

 are not allowed to rest upon the ground, but are raised a few inches to 

 allow the air to circulate underneath. Skins dry very fast when exposed 

 in this manner. 



The first days of spring are always a busy time with the Eskimo 



