An Anthropogeographical Study of the Origin of the Eskimo Culture. 139 
or dividing ridge of which forms a boundary between the Eskimo and the Indians, 
the seaward side being Eskimo and the river-side Indian. In the district where 
the tributary stream Anvik rises, the Eskimo territory is narrowed even to a 
breadth of 20 kilometres; but after that it widens out enormously in the low, 
flat delta through which the Yukon and the Kuskoquim flow. Here the Eskimo 
do not disappear until at the beginning of the higher ground in 160° W. long. 
Here, the moment one sets foot upon the mountainous, wooded ground along 
the river, the skin boat is found to be replaced by the boat made of birch-bark, 
the dog sledge by the broad-fellied snow-sledge (toboggan), and the Eskimo 
by the Ingaliks. South of the Delta the limit of the Eskimo goes east of the 
lakes Nushagak or Tickchik and Iliamna. 
It is along the stretch of coast from Norton Sound to Bristol Bay that 
the transition from Arctic to Subarctic climate and form of culture is wholly 
accomplished. Norton Sound is still covered every winter with a continuous 
layer of ice; but in Bristol Bay an ice-covering rarely forms. In connection 
with this fact the dog sledge is only used in Norton Sound and as far as the 
Delta with its numerous freshwater arteries extends; not, however, further to 
the south than the Kuskoquim. This is also the southernmost point at which 
the most important animal which is hunted, the Ringed Seal, occurs in large 
numbers, “its range reaching the mouth of the Kuskoquim River, and ex- 
tending thence in a westerly course across the sea in a line coinciding with 
the southern edge of the ice-pack.”! The Bearded Seal is extremely rare 
further south than Bristol Bay. Phoca vitulina, on the other hand, is common 
everywhere, and formerly the Eared Seals were, in addition, hunted every sum- 
mer; lately the latter have been hunted so largely that their occurrence is 
almost entirely restricted to the uninhabited islets St. Paul and St. George, 
and the Siberian islands, Copper and Bering Islands. The walrus is of no im- 
portance, and occurs more singly; but formerly, an abundance of young males 
of walrus used to arrive every summer at the more distant Aleutian north coast 
of Aliaska, WRANGELL? believed that they had been ousted by the old males 
which lived in northern regions. 
The distinction which Dati made between the numerous Eskimo tribes 
in Western Alaska, and which was afterwards adopted by PETROFF, NELSON 
and others, is of no great interest in this connection. A difference of greater 
interest to us is that between the inhabitants of the lofty coasts of Norton Sound, 
where the settlements are located on islands and headlands, and the Delta Eskimo 
whose settlements are situated along the rivers. 
ОсилтЕ and Netson have described how life is spent at Norton Sound 
all the year round. In the spring months, March, April and May, or from the 
moment when the day becomes somewhat long until the ice becomes insecure, 
the men go out seal hunting on the ice, without, however, taking up their abode 
on it in snow houses. In early spring the Maupok method is used, but Utok 
hunting is the more important during spring. Later on, when the ice is inter- 
1 Nerson, II, р. 262. 
2 WRANGELL, р. 51. 
