THE LIFE AT TUKTUYAKTOK 139 



are no buckles, everything slips on easily, and the only 

 things to be fastened are belts and drawstrings. There 

 are some slight differences in the clothes of men and 

 women but they are about equally easy to put on. 



I never actually timed these breakfast-getters but I do 

 not think it took them more than from thirty to forty-five 

 seconds to get completely dressed. Then they ran out 

 and presently returned with armfuls of frozen fish, car- 

 ried somewhat as a farmer carries an armful of firewood. 

 The fish were thrown upon the floor with a clatter and 

 more conversation went on for about half an hour, until 

 it was considered that the fish were suitably thawed. 

 Then the women would take their half-moon shaped 

 knives and cut off the heads of the fish, to be saved till 

 the afternoon's cooking. Then they would run a straight 

 cut along the back of each fish from neck to tail, and 

 another along the belly. They would then take one 

 corner of the skin between their teeth and strip it off 

 somewhat as one might a banana, if one did strip a banana 

 with his teeth. If the fish were large, they were cut into 

 segments but if they weighed no more than a pound or 

 two they were left in one piece. 



In a big family like ours the fish was put on several 

 platters so that no one would have too far to reach. Be- 

 fore the platters were distributed Ovayuak's wife used 

 to look them over and pick out the best pieces for the 

 children, for it is the custom that in all things children 

 are more favored than even the most influential member 

 of the family or the most respected visitor. Next after 

 the children the visitors would have their choice in a fam- 

 ily where one fish tray served, but in a big family they 

 take their chances more or less. If there are three sleep- 

 ing platforms there would be a separate tray for each 



