Ethnographic Description of the Eskimo Settlements 



199 



found. There can only be talk of winter hunting in the case of 

 these traps, as in summer the fox is not inclined to go into traps, 

 especially as there is sufficient food for him at this time of year, 

 in the form of eggs, lemmings and birds. Further, the summer skin 

 of the fox is not worth striving after, as it is then thin in the hair, 

 brittle and unsightly. 



The traps are always placed in such a position, that they can 

 be watched conveniently from a winter settlement, and naturally 

 the discovery of a fox-trap indicates, that Eskimos have passed the 

 winter within a fairly reasonable distance — whether in stone and 

 earth houses, or in snow houses which have left no trace. 



Fig. 8. I^ermanent meat-depot 118. Кар Bismarck. 

 The covering stones have l)een removed. The solid rock is used in the formation of the depot. 



(Photo, by the author). 



Traps were found which fitted in exactly with their surroundings 

 (fig. 7), others again were very conspicuous and almost dominated 

 the character of the country (fig. 30). 



A trap is built' as a rule on solid ground or on a large stone. 

 It consists of two long Avails and a back wall built of large stones 

 suited for the purpose and is covered over with stones, of such a 

 size presumably that the animal could not raise them up. A pointed 

 stone is inserted into the back wall and projects 8 — 10 cm. into the 

 trap; on this was placed the bait which was connected by a strip 



1 Cf. Parry: p. 514; Lyon: pp. 147, 339; Ryder: p. 312 and Steensby: 298. 



