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 crosswavs ; if it comes to the surface 



V 9 9 



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 



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