THE QUEST OF THE OTTER. 141 



an instant to fully breathe, for a period, perhaps, of two or even 

 three hours, until, from interrupted respiration, it finally becomes 

 so filled with air or gases as to be unable to sink, and then falls at 

 once an easy victim. During this contest the Aleutes have been 

 throwing their spears whenever they were anywhere within range 

 of the kahlan, and the hunter who has stricken the quarry is the 

 proud and wealthy possessor, beyond all question or dispute. 



In this manner the fleet moves on, sometimes very fortunate in 

 finding the coveted prey ; again, whole weeks pass away without a 

 single surround. The landings at night are made without any 

 choice or selection, but just as the close of the day urges them to 

 find the nearest shore. The bidarkies are hauled out above surf- 

 wash, and carefully inspected ; if it is raining or very cold, small 

 A-tents are pitched, using the paddles and spears for poles and 

 pegs, into which the natives crowd for sleep and warmth, since they 

 carry no blankets or bed-clothes whatever, and unless the wind is 

 right they dare not make a fire, even to prepare the cherished cup 

 of tea, which they enjoy more than anything else in the world, not 

 excepting tobacco. After ninety or a hundred days of such em- 

 ployment, during which time they have been subjected to frequent 

 peril of life in storm, and fog-lost, they repair to the rendezvous 

 agreed upon between the trader and themselves, ready and happy 

 to return for a resting-spell, to their wives, children, and sweethearts 

 in the village whence we saw them depart. They may have been 

 so lucky as to have secured forty or fifty otters, each skin worth 

 to them at least fifty to sixty dollars, and if so, they will have a pro- 

 longed season of festivity at Oonalashka, when they get back. Per- 

 haps the weather has been so inclement that this party will not 

 have taken a half-dozen pelts ; then gloomy, indeed, will be the 

 reception at home. 



While the "spearing surround" of the Aleutian hunter is ortho- 

 doxy, the practice, now universal, of surf-shooting the otter, is 

 heterodoxy, and is so styled among these people, but it has only 

 been in vogue for a short time, and it is primarily due to our 

 traders, who, in their active struggle to incite the natives to a 

 greater showing of skins, have loaned and have given, to the young 

 hunters in especial, the best patterns of rifles. With these firearms 

 the shores of many of the Aleutian channels, Saanak, and the 

 Chernaboors, are patrolled during heavy weather, and whenever a 

 sea-otter's head is seen in the surf, no matter if a thousand yards 



