Sketches From Oldest America 



bone or spines from the feather of the gannet. A 

 spear formed from two pieces of bone arranged in 

 the shape of a V proved effective in capturing fish. 

 The net was of service, not only for fish and beluga, 

 but also for ptarmigan and foxes. For the latter, it 

 was set stationary, the hunters remaining hidden in 

 snow shelters constructed for the occasion. On the 

 approach of a fox, the men in hiding jumped up and 

 made a noise, and the frightened creature in its 

 efforts to escape was driven forward into the net. 

 In netting ptarmigan, the only caution necessary is 

 not to frighten the birds, but to keep them walking 

 forward slowly. The meshes of the net are large 

 and of fine sinew; the bird on attempting to pass 

 through, becomes entangled. On the cliffs, during 

 the summer months, the hand-net on a pole is a 

 favorite device for capturing the murres, which fly 

 back and forth among the rocks in immense num- 

 bers, making one continuous war night and day. 

 These methods of hunting are all very old, yet all 

 are still in use among the Inupash with the excep- 

 tion of that of netting foxes, the net having been 

 abandoned for the steel trap. 



Bows and arrows are of very ancient origin, too 

 remote to trace out their first introduction. The 

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