312 PBEHISTOEIC FISHING. 



to twenty-eight feet in length ; at the end whereof is fixed a large piece of bone 

 cut in notches, which being spliced to the shaft, serves as a secure hold for the 

 harpoon, which is fastened to it with thongs. — The harpoon is of an oval form, 

 and rendered extremely sharp at the sides as well as the point; it is made of a 

 large muscle-shell, and is fixed into another piece of bone, about three inches 

 lono-, and to Avhich a line is fastened, made of the sinews of certain beasts, of 

 several fathoms in length ; this is again attached to the shaft ; so that when the 

 fish is pierced, the shaft floats on the water by means of seal-skins filled with 

 wind, or the ventilated bladders of fish, which are securely attached to it. 



" The chief himself is the principal harpooner, and is the first that strikes 

 the whale. — He is attended by several canoes of the same size as his own, filled 

 with people armed with hai'poons, to be employed as occasion may require. 

 When the huge fish feels the smart of the first weapon, he instantly dives, and 

 carries the shaft with all its bladders along with him. The boats immediately 

 follow his wake, and as he rises, continue to fix their weapons in him, till he 

 finds it impossible for him to sink, from the number of floating buoys which are 

 now attached to his body. The whale then drowns, and is towed on shore with 

 great noise and rejoicings. It is then immediately cut up, when part is dedi- 

 cated to the feast which concludes the day, and the remainder divided among 

 those who have shared in the dangers and glory of it. 



" The taking of the sea-otter is attended with far greater hazard as well as 

 trouble. For this purpose two very small canoes are prepared, in each of which 

 are two expert hunters. The instruments they employ on this occasion are bows 

 and arrows, and a small harpoon. The latter diifers, in some degree, from that 

 which they use in hunting the whale ; the .shaft is much the same, and is pointed 

 with bone ; but the harpoon itself is of a greater length, and so notched and 

 barbed, that when it has once entered the flesh, it is almost impossible to extri- 

 cate it. This is attached to the shaft by several fathoms of line of sufficient 

 strength to drag the otter to the boat. The arrows are small, and pointed with 

 bone, formed into a single barb. Thus equipped, the hunters proceed among the 

 rocks in search of their prey. — Sometimes they surprise him sleeping on his 

 back, on the surface of the water ; and, if they can get near the animal without 

 awakening him, which requires infinite precaution, he is easily harpooned and 

 dragged to the boat, when a fierce battle very often ensues between the otter and 

 the hunters, who are frequently wounded by the claws and teeth of the animal. 

 The more common mode, however, of taking him is by pursuit, which is some- 

 times continued for several hours. — As he cannot remain under water but for a 

 very short time, the skill in this chace consists in directing the canoes in the 

 same line that the otter takes when under the water, at which time he swims 

 with a degree of celerity that greatly exceeds that of his pursuers. They there- 

 fore separate, in order to have the better chance of wounding him with their 



