234 SPORT m NORTH AMERICA. 



are fork-shaped, and they have snares depending 

 from them of very simple construction. By way of 

 baitj a few juniper and birch seeds are scattered 

 around, of both of which the grouse are very fond, 

 and they fall easy victims to this method of catching 

 them. A single Esquimaux family will not unfre- 

 quently possess some hundreds of these snares, and 

 in a favourable year they will take from 1,500 to 

 2,000 head of game. In the spring, they will catch 

 the cock grouse without even being at the pains to 

 stir. It is only necessary to imitate the cry of the 

 hen-bird, and the cocks, without more ado, rush 

 straight into the jaws of the enemy. Maroah (who 

 communicated to us many details of Esquimaux 

 sport) told us that at one time they used to fish for 

 sea-lions in the open sea with nets ; but this method 

 was not much esteemed, for it frightened the am- 

 phibia, and consequently diminished the produce of 

 the fishery ; so it was abandoned. In the month of 

 March, when the ice is broken up and the icebergs 

 of Newfoundland and Labrador float past Kamana- 

 tignia, the fishermen again venture out in pursuit of 

 sea-lions, which may then be found lying among the 

 floes of ice. 



Some years ago, the Esquimaux used to hunt the 

 sea-lions at the time when they returned northwards 

 to bring forth their little ones. The main object of 

 this was to get possession of the little cubs, whose 

 fur is very soft and white, and sells for a good price. 



