236 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



air and beating with his hoofs. To convince him- 

 self, the fisherman then bores a hole, through which 

 he thrusts a stick, at the end of which is a rope with 

 a stone fastened to it. If the perpendicular line 

 changes its direction, the fisherman makes all haste 

 he can to the mainland, sometimes leaving even his 

 sledge and all its contents behind him. Sometimes 

 he has to throw himself into the sea, and gains the 

 land that way ; but if the ice-floe be too far from the 

 shore, he must perforce resign himself to his fate, 

 and take the chance of some unlooked-for aid. 



During my stay in the United States, some months 

 after my visit to the Esquimaux, a Liverpool ship 

 brought to New York one of these sea-hunters who 

 had been picked up in the open sea near the 47th 

 degree of latitude, in the direction of the Faroe Is- 

 lands. The poor wretch had nothing but skin upon 

 his bones ; he had eaten absolutely nothing for thirty- 

 six hours. For fifteen days, he had been the sport of 

 the currents, and three times the berg on which he 

 was floating had rolled over and changed its position. 

 From what a frightful death had he escaped ! 



Seasons like these are, however, quite inoperative 

 to prevent the Esquimaux from fishing in the open 

 sea. Forgetful of past dangers, the love of gain 

 tempts him on, and again he starts on his perilous 

 journeys as soon as he can replace the sleigh and 

 implements which he has lost. Unfortunately, the 

 fate of som3 of these poor creatures is less fortunate 



