An Anthropogeographical Study of the Origin of the Eskimo Culture. 95 
As regards certain essential points there is, however, constant agree- 
ment between. past and present. Thus, in the fact that the northern 
West Greenlanders with an Arctic degree of culture live for preference 
within the fjords and bays where the winter-ice is permitted to remain 
unbroken by wind and current the longest possible part of the year, 
while the southern West Greenlanders with a Subarctic nuance of cul- 
ture have as strong a bent in the direction of the open sea and the 
outer coasts. It accords with the constant validity of this pomt of adapta- 
tion that the annual economic cycle is in reality also the same in the different 
places as in olden days, even if some of the old methods have been replaced 
with newer ones, showing European influence. Here will be given a few 
examples of annual economic cycles at Arctic and Subarctic settlements. 
At the settlement of Umanak at the head of Umanak fjord, Arctic conditions 
prevail. An ice-covering is formed late in autumn, and from about the 
middle of December it remains fixed and unbroken. Then was the period 
for Maupok hunting, but this method plays a very subordinate part here, 
having been replaced by “ice-net-hunting”. During January, February and 
March ‘‘Ice-net-hunting” of seals is continued. In April Utok hunting becomes 
predominant, and remains so during May and the greater part of June, 
till the ice breaks up, which generally happens about the 18th—20th of 
June. When the ice is gone the hunting from kayaks begins and is 
continued until the sea again is ice-covered. 
It is true that the small Hunde Islands south of Disco Island are situated 
somewhat north of the Arctic circle, but on account of their oceanic situa- 
tion in the mouth of Disco Bay they have an ice-covering of shorter dura- 
tion than have localities situated within Disco Bay and in the same parallel 
of latitude, and the economic life attains a character which is in a transi- 
tional stage to the Subarctic life. About nine months of the year, or from 
April to December, the sea is open, at any rate so much so that hunting 
is carried on from kayaks. In January, February and March there is ice 
on the sea, but the ice-covering is partly unreliable as it can break up at 
any time and drift away seawards, partly intersected with cracks and with 
openings caused by currents. Therefore Maupok hunting cannot be pursued; 
but seals may be hunted from ice edges along cracks and openings; the 
bunters must always take the kayak along with them, to cross the open 
places or to row to land, should the ice drift seawards. Utok hunting is, 
however, of importance in early spring. In June and July some members 
of the settlement travel into the district of Holsteinsborg or into Disco 
Bay for the purpose of hunting and fishing — it is m West Greenland one 
of the few remains of the old Eskimo summer-moves. 
South of Holsteinsborg the Subarctic economic culture appears in a 
still more decided form. As a rule, the hunting is carried on all the year 
round from kayaks, and the methods of hunting on ice are not employed 
owing to the absence of an ice-covering. The settlements have been moved 
out to the mouths of the fjords on account of the open water; within a 
