FUR ANIMALS. 453 



for the purpose of cubbing. If the hunters are success- 

 ful in making a good haul, a feast and a dance is the re- 

 sult; but if not, they think that the spirit of ill-luck has 

 worked against them, and, to appease that, they frequently 

 indulge in barbaric ceremonies and incantations to allay its 

 anger. 



The animal was formerly shot with bows and arrows, 

 but since the introduction of fire-arms many of the red 

 men have discarded their own primitive weapons for the 

 latter; yet it is doubtful if they are any more successful, 

 as they are apt to fire at too great a distance, so that if 

 they even kill the otter it is liable to sink and be lost before 

 they can reach it. 



Some are recovered, however, by diving for them, as 

 they do not go down like a stone as the seal does. Rifles 

 are also likely to frighten the animals by their noise, and 

 thus make them scatter more quickly than if the silent 

 spear or arrow were used. Several of the more Northern 

 tribes are skilful otter-hunters ; and it is really an inspirit- 

 ing sight to behold a fleet of their canoes riding the bois- 

 terous waves, as they ply spear and arrow, or use the more 

 destructive fire-arms in pursuit of their game. 



The Makahs of Washington Territory are the best otter- 

 hunters that I saw on the northern coast south of Alaska; 

 but in the latter country the Aleuts, who make capital sail- 

 ors, were acknowledged to be the chiefs. I accompanied 

 the former a few times on a hunt after the otter and fur- 

 seals, but our luck, on the whole, was only moderate, as the 

 sea was often very rough $ hence we could not land on some 

 of the islets in Fuca Straits. Their mode of capturing 

 their quarries was to spread out in every direction and 

 beat about; and whenever a seal or otter was discovered 

 it was chased immediately, and was kept diving and swim- 

 ming until its lungs became so full of air that it could not 

 dive again ; it was then promptly speared or shot. The 

 otter sometimes rose to the surface very near a canoe, and 

 the moment its head appeared, a spear, to which was at- 

 tached a large bladder, was driven into its body ; and if it 



