THE FRIENDLY ARCTIC 209 



in other directions. Sometimes the leads were open, but as the frost 

 was still heavy at night the whales occasionally found themselves in 

 leads covered with young ice. Then it was interesting to see the 

 six or eight-inch ice bulge and break as they struck it with the 

 hump of their backs. A moment after the noise of breaking ice 

 would come the hiss of the spouting whale and a column of spray. 



Although some of the leads were narrow enough to compel the 

 whales to pass within a few yards of us, we did not try to kill 

 them because they sink instantly and it is no use unless you have 

 a harpoon. On this our first sea journey we should doubtless have 

 carried a harpoon had we expected to encounter whales. Now we 

 have complete faith in the seal, and I do not think it likely I shall 

 ever take along any apparatus for killing or securing animals other 

 than bears and seals. IJndoubtedly there are fish in the water, and 

 for scientific reasons it would be of interest to carry some sort of 

 gear for getting them, but I would never bother about fishing for 

 food when seals are to be had. You must have the seals for fuel, 

 anyway, and you might as well get from them your food also. 

 The seal is indeed the best all-around animal of the North. Their 

 skins furnish us with boots, with boats, and with containers for oil. 

 The blubber is food for men and dogs, it supplies light in winter and 

 heat for house and cooking, and the intestines provide waterproof 

 clothing and translucent material for windows. 



The temporarily favorable westerly winds came to an end May 

 22nd and another siege of easterly winds began. But for two days 

 we had good luck. Undoubtedly the ice was all moving west, but 

 the traveling floes pressed upon each other so closely that we always 

 found a comer by which to cross to the next one east. 



