278 THE POINT BARROW ESKIMO. 



tives dig shallow pits in the gravel, in which they post themselves with 

 guns and bolas. A line of posts is set up along the bend of the beach 

 from the tents almost to the outlet of Imekpiiniglu. 



When a light breeze is blowing from the northeast the ducks, no 

 matter how far off shore they are when first seen, always head for the 

 point of land on the other side of this outlet, probably with the inten 

 tion of following the line of lagoons and going out to sea farther down 

 the coast, as they sometimes do. When, however, they reach this critical 

 point they catch sight of the posts, and the natives who are watching 

 them sharply set up a shrill yell. Frightened by this and by the line 

 of posts, nine times out of ten, if the cry is given at the right moment, 

 the ducks will falter, become confused, and, finally, collecting into a 

 compact body will whirl along the line of posts, past the tents, flying 

 close to the water, and turn out to sea at the first open space, which is 

 just where the gunners arc posted. This habit of yelling to frighten 

 the ducks and bring them within gunshot has been observed on the 

 Siberian cost in places where the ducks are in the habit of flying in 

 and out from lagoons over low bars. 1 Should the wind blow hard from 

 the east, however, or blow from any other quarter, the ducks do not 

 fly in such abundance, nor do they pay much attention to the posts or 

 the yelling, but often keep on their course down the lagoons, or head 

 straight for the beach and cross wherever they strike it. The latter is 

 generally the habit with the old squaws, who come rather late in the 

 migrations, while the black brant (Branta nigricans) are more apt to go 

 down the lagoons. A few pintail ducks (l)afila acuta), are occasionally 

 shot at this season, and are sometimes found in the two little village 

 ponds (Tuseraru). The shooting at Pernyii usually lasts till the mid 

 dle or end of September, during which month the natives also shoot a 

 good many gulls (Larus barrovianus and Rhodostethia rosea) as they 

 fly along the shore. 



IMPLEMENTS FOR FISHING. 



Hooka and lines. The streams and lakes in the immediate neighbor 

 hood of Point Barrow contain no fish, and there is comparatively little 

 fishing in the sea. When the water first closes in the autumn narrow 

 tide cracks often form at the very edge of the beach. At these cracks 

 the natives frequently catch considerable numbers of Polar cod (Bore- 

 ogadns saida) and small s^ulpins (Cottus quadricornis and (J. decas- 

 treusis), with the hook and line. The tackle for this fishing consists of 



I Vou der Lagune au.s pflegten jeden Morgen un&amp;lt;l Abend groase Entenschaaren iiber dou Ort hiu- 

 weg iiach dem Meere zufliegen. Dann wurden durch Pfelfennnd Schroien die Thiere so goiingstigt, 

 dass sit 1 ihreii Flag .thwarts richteton uinl nun (lurch die mit grosser Sichcrheit geworfene Schlouder 

 Oder duroh FlintenBohtiBse erreioht werden konnten. (East Capo), Krause Brothers, (Jeographisehe 

 Blatter, Vol. 5, pt. 1, p. 32. 



II The birds were easily called from their course of flight, as we repeatedly observed. If a Hock 

 should be passing a hundred yards or more to one side, the natives would utter a long, peculiar cry, 

 and the llork would turn instantly to one side and sweep by in a circuit, thus affording the coveted 

 opportunity for bringing down some of their number.&quot; (Capo Waukarem), Xelsou, Cruiso of the 

 Corwin. p. 100. 



