128 ODOB^NUS ROSMAEUS ATLANTIC WALRUS. 



the boat much quicker than it coukl be done otherwise, while 

 the shortness of the oars renders them easier to handle and less 

 in the way among the ice than longer ones would be. The har- 

 pooner rows the bow-oars and is the commander of the boat, he 

 alone using the weapons and the telescope. The strongest man 

 in the boat is placed next the harpooner, to haul in the line when 

 a Walrus is struck and to be the assistant of the harpoonerJ 

 The boats are always painted white outside to assimilate their 

 color to that of the ice. Each boat is provided with six har- 

 poons, placed in racks, three on each side of the bow (inside), 

 and protected by a painted canvas curtain. To each harpoon 

 is attached twelve or fifteen fathoms of line, each coiled sepa- 

 rately in flat boxes under the front thwart, the end being firmly 

 fastened to some strong part of the boat. The lines should be 

 of the finest quality of two-inch tarred rope, "very soft laid," 

 of the best workmanship and materials. Four shafts for the 

 harpoons are usually carried, made of white-pine poles about 

 twelve feet long, and about an inch and a half in thickness ,^ 

 fitted at one end to enter the socket of the harpoon. The har- 

 poons are used for either thrusting or darting, and a skillful 

 harpooner is said to be able to secure a Walrus at a distance of 

 four or five fathoms. When possible, they are thrust into the 

 victim, and a precautionary twist given in order to disengage 

 the shaft and more securely entangle the barbs in the monster's 

 blubber or skin. In addition to the harpoons are usually car- 

 ried four or five very large lances, with heavy, white-pine shafts 

 about nine feet long, and increasing in thickness from an inch 

 and a half to two and a half where it enters the socket of the 

 lance. This is for the double purpose of giving the necessary 

 strength to the shaft, and to afford buoyancy enough to float 

 the lance-head in ease it becomes disengaged from the animal, 

 the lance-head being secured to the shaft by a double thong of 

 raw seal-skin. Each boat is also provided with five "haak- 

 picks," or boat-hooks, which may be used in dispatching Seals, as 

 well as for the ordinary uses of a boat-hook ; also with several 

 axes, a large one for decai)itating the dead Walruses, and a small 

 one for cutting the line in case the Walrus proves too fierce and 

 mischievous, or in case of accidents ; five or six large, sharp 

 " flensing " knives ; an ice-anchor, with tackle for hauling the 

 dead Walruses on to flat icebergs ; lockers supplied with vari- 

 ous smaller imx^lements and a small outfit of provisions, to guard 

 against the uncertainties arising from accidents and thick 



