io BIG GAME SHOOTING 



effective weapon. When thrust into a walrus or seal, a large 

 outer barb ' takes up ' a loop of the tough hide, whilst a small 

 inner fish-hook barb prevents it from becoming disengaged, so 

 that when once properly harpooned, it is very seldom, if ever, 

 that an animal escapes through the harpoon ' drawing.' The har- 

 poon-shafts, which lie along the thwarts, are made of white pine 

 poles, 12 ft. in length and from i in. to i| in. in diameter, 

 tapered at one end to fit the socket of the harpoon-head, in 

 which the shaft is set fast when required by striking its butt 

 against one of the ribs of the boat, or a small block fixed 

 in the after end on the starboard side. The harpoon is used 

 almost entirely as a thrusting weapon, but a good man can set 

 one fast by casting if the occasion demands it, up to a distance 

 of 20 ft. The harpoon line, which is 'grummeted ' round the 

 shank of the head, consists of sixteen fathoms of two-inch 

 tarred rope, very carefully made of the finest hemp, ' soft 

 laid ' ; each line is neatly coiled in a separate box placed 

 beneath the forward thwart. When a walrus is ' fast,' it is most 

 important that the line should not slip aft if allowed to do so 

 it would probably capsize the boat and to help to prevent 

 this, deep retaining notches are cut in two pieces of hardwood 

 fixed one on each side of the stempost, the top of which is also 

 channelled. 



The lance also lies along the thwarts, its broad blade con- 

 tained in a box fixed at the starboard end of the forward 

 thwart. The head weighs about 3^ Ibs., and the white pine 

 shafts 5 Ibs. to 7 Ibs., according to length. It is generally 

 about 6 ft. and tapered from 2\ ins. at the socket to i^ in. 

 at the handle. The head is riveted to the shaft ; two projecting 

 ears run some way up, and are bound to it by a piece of stout 

 hoop iron, for additional security. 



Along the thwarts also lie a mast and sail, and several 

 'hakkepiks,' a form of boathook, most useful for ice work. 

 Another box, fastened to the starboard gunwale, holds a tele- 

 scope. In the bottom of the boat are twenty-four fathoms of 

 rope, two double-purchase blocks, and an ice anchor ; in 



