The Journal of a Sporting Nomad 
on board. When an otter is sighted the greatest 
rivalry is manifested by these men, for the money 
prize offered by the captain of the schooner falls 
to the crew of the bidarka which first scores a 
hit with an arrow. Now, a sea-otter differs from 
a seal when in the water in this important par- 
ticular, that it dives in one direction, coming up 
again to breathe at intervals in the same line 
more or less, whereas a seal is as likely to come 
up behind or at right angles to its pursuer’s 
course. We will suppose that an otter has been 
sighted, the different bidarkis launched in pur- 
suit, each racing to get near enough for a shot. 
When this is accomplished the two front men 
attend to the manoeuvring of the canoe, whilst 
the third man shoots his arrows. The otter 
appears one hundred yards ahead, the archer 
shoots his arrow into the air so that in falling 
it hits the beast or water; in its parabolic — 
flight. In the event of a hit the ivory barb 
penetrates the otter’s skin, which is_ loose 
and baggy. The beast dives, and at the 
same time the barb comes out of the hole in the 
shaft, and the harness with which it is attached 
to the shaft of the arrow unwinds itself. The 
otter has therefore to drag the arrow through 
the water crossways; if it comes to the surface 
for a moment, the shaft of the arrow, owing to 
the ivory end, appears feathered end up above 
the surface; this goes on until the beast is so 
234 
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