CUSTOMS OF THE ESKIMOS. 161 



spearing fish through the ice, and with good results if 

 in the hands of an expert. 



I tried fish spearing in the north, but lacked the 

 patience necessary for success. Many times, however, 

 I purchased from the Eskimos the magnificent trout and 

 white-fish by which their efforts were rewarded. 



The way in which they spear is this : First, the most 

 favorable spot of the lake or river is selected, and then 

 a hole cut through the ice. With some kind of a bait, 

 which they lower into the water by means of a string, 

 they endeavor to attract the fish to the hole; when 

 they appear they are thrust through by the spear and 

 hauled out upon the ice. Great numbers of beautiful 

 fish are caught by the Eskimos in this way during the 

 fall and winter seasons. 



Trapping is not extensively followed, unless it is 

 by the Eskimos living within reach of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company's posts, perhaps because of the in- 

 efficiency of the native traps, but also owing to 

 the comparatively slight value to the Eskimos of the 

 animals which may be caught. For instance, the 

 wolf is an animal little sought for, because his flesh is 

 not considered good food, and his skin is no better for 

 clothing than the skin of the deer, which is much more 

 easily procured. So also with the fox. Both wolves 

 and foxes are, however, caught to some extent by " dead 

 fall " traps, built of stones, or of snow, and so arranged 

 that when the animal enters the trap and touches the 

 bait, a heavy stone is caused to fall and kill or imprison 

 him. 



The Eskimo, or " Enuit," as he calls himself, being of 

 a jovial, merry disposition, has various forms of amuse- 

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