CHAPTER VII. 



A GOOD deal of sea was running on Sunday morning, 

 making the occupations of that day rather unpleasant. 

 Ordinarily, this was the day for writing up the log, 

 mending clothes, casting bullets, etc., a series of light tasks 

 which, we flattered ourselves, did not partake of such a 

 wholesale desecration of the Sabbath as hunting would 

 have been. More important work, however, claimed our 

 attention this morning, for the skins of the five otters shot 

 the day before had been already removed, and required 

 curing, so as to be stowed away ready for the market. The 

 first step was with a sharp knife to thoroughly clear the 

 head, paws, tail, and flippers of all flesh and fatty matter. 

 This being done, rough oblong frames, proportionate in 

 size to the skin to be stretched, were knocked together out 

 of battens about an inch thick and four broad, a supply of 

 which we had handy. On these the skins were laid, and 

 beginning from the head, and well nailed down, care being 

 taken not to stretch them more than was absolutely 

 necessary, so as to keep the fur as close and thick as 

 possible ; indeed, much caution was required, the skin 

 being tender, and easily torn. The tail, carefully flattened 

 out, was lastly nailed on to a piece of wood fastened on to 

 the frame for the purpose, each skin, according to size, 

 would require any number up to eighty nails. This part of 

 the operation being completed, the next was to " lean " the 

 flesh and muscle adhering to the under side. 



To " lean " a skin properly, one end of the frame is 

 placed on the rail, the other being supported on a cask or 

 trestle. Two people working together from opposite sides 



