32 The Story of the New England Whalers 



whales have learned to fear the whaler. The 

 modern Eskimo is, if possible, more reckless than 

 any red whaler of former years. Because of the 

 ever present ice under which the whale usually 

 tries to escape, he must strike while he may, and 

 to see an Eskimo taking chances in order to get a 

 thrust with his lance or a shot with his bomb 

 gun is the experience of a lifetime; for the Eskimo 

 whaler is always so anxious lest his prey escape 

 that he never gives any thought to the dangers 

 he may be risking. 



It was the custom of the red whalers to divide 

 the meat and blubber which they took among 

 their neighbors among the whole community, 

 that is. This custom still prevails among the 

 Eskimo. They are so far socialists. The bone 

 was also common property in former days, but now 

 it is divided .as prize money is divided among 

 the crews of war-ships, all boats within reach at 

 the killing, and no others, share the bone. Bone 

 is held as private property now because the white 

 trader will buy it. With bone held as private 

 property the Eskimo whaler of unusual ability 

 now has what a white man would call a tangible 



