140 Morten P. Porsild, 



disturbance. Furthermore, these locahties are usually situated at a great 

 distance from the fixed winter dwellings, so that the game has to be 

 transported a long way. Owing to these reasons this mode of hunting 

 is probably not turned fully to account, even though it is nowhere 

 neglected ; but it is usually abandoned as soon as there are possibilities 

 of other modes of hunting, and the hunter who carries on ice-fjord- 

 hunting is well nigh regarded as a specialist. 



6. Qâgtarneq, napitorneq. Net hunting in openings in the 

 ice caused by currents. In large openings in the ice which are caused 

 by currents, and which may consequently be expected to be kept open 

 the whole winter, there are possibilities for practising all the various 

 kinds of hunting which are carried on in openings in the ice. But, in 

 addition, there are here conditions for net-hunting: both of seals of 

 all kinds and of White Whale and Narwhal. But as this hunting requires 

 large nets which involve a considerable outlay of capital, and some 

 risk, it is only exceptionally that the Greenland hunter can practise the 

 method. It is usually carried on by well-to-do natives who are in the 

 employment of the administration or of the trading service, and some- 

 times by Danes. 



Description of old thrusting and tlirowing liarpoons 

 from West Greenland. 



Figure 11, a is a very carefully made harpoon, perhaps for hunting 

 on ice, or, what is more probable, for hunting White Whale from 

 kayaks. The ventral side is slightly, and the dorsal side markedly, 

 carinate, so that a transverse section below the line holes shows a pointed 

 arch. Line holes ventral. Toggling butt slanting upwards, forming a 

 short, pointed, undivided terminal barb. Shaft-socket large, edges not 

 much rounded. Blade horizontal, riveted, seems to be made of native 

 telluric iron. Antler. Disco Fjord, in an old grave. 



Fig. 11, 6, A large and somewhat clumsily made thrusting harpoon 

 of antler. The blade is of iron, almost eaten away by rust, horizontal. 

 The line hole runs through the harpoon in the horizontal plane. The 

 toggling butt is cut aslant, undivided, worn and damaged, so the shaft- 

 socket is irregular. 1 Sarqaq, the district of Ritenbenk. 



Fig. 11, c, A large, well-made White-Whale-harpoon, no doubt of a 

 whale's bone. The blade, which had been of iron, was intentionally 

 removed before the harpoon was discarded. One lateral barb, frag- 

 mentary, and on the opposite side, an oblique, terminal barb. Line 

 holes ventral. Sarqaq. 



1 A similar harpoon from West Greenland is illustrated by Thalbitzer. 

 (Fig. 101), but has been misunderstood, being taken for a head-piece of an adze. 



