INNUIT LIFE AND LAND. 399 



and projecting rock is festooned with their rotting forms ah ! 

 the stench arising absolutely forbids the pangs of hunger, even 

 though we have no provision. These are the salmon that have died 

 from exhaustion and from bruises received in struggling with swift 

 and impetuous currents, and the rocks and snags that beset their 

 paths of annual reproduction. 



North of the Togiak River are several small, rocky islets which, 

 having a nucleus of solid granite, are the cause of a large series 

 of sand and mud reefs. Upon those shoals the huge walrus of 

 Bering Sea is wont to crawl and lazily sun himself in herds of 

 thousands. He is practically secure here from attack, since the 

 varying shifts of the tide and its furious rush in ebb and flood 

 make a trip to the islets one of positive danger, even to a most 

 hardy and well-acquainted hunter. Stragglers, however, are fre- 

 quently surprised on the mainland shore opposite, and the south- 

 ern coast of Hagenmeister Island toward Cape Newenham to the 

 westward. 



The muskrat catch of Alaska is secured almost wholly in the 

 Nooshagak region an immense number of these water-rodents are 

 annually taken by Innuits here. Traders, however, do not prize them 

 very highly, but to secure the natives' custom they are obliged to ap- 

 pear satisfied with all that these people bring in to the post. These 

 skins are, however, not sold in this country ; they are all shipped to 

 France and Germany, where they meet with a ready sale, since the 

 poor people there are not above wearing them. Also, most of the 

 good Alaskan beaver peltries are from this district, where they have 

 the best fur and are consequently prized above all other catches 

 outside of that region. Land-otter is also in large quantity and 

 fine quality, but the mink and martens and foxes are inferior. 

 During summer seasons, on many lakes, flocks of big, white, 

 trumpeting swans will be found frequenting nearly every one of 

 those bodies of water. The natives hunt them at night, and capt- 

 ure unsuspecting birds as they sleep upon the water, by paddling 

 noiselessly upon them. The traders encourage this industry for 

 the sake of the swan's down which it produces. The most favored 

 spot by swans is Lake Walker, which lies on the Nakneek port- 

 age over to Cook's Inlet. Perhaps its rare, unique beauty charms 

 these giant natatores as it does ourselves, for, without question, it 

 is incomparably the most lovely sheet of water, set in a frame of 

 glorious mountains, which the fancy of an artist could possibly 



