The Kadiak Bear and his Home 



spears tipped with slate, two men will run close 

 up to a whale, drive two spears home with a throw- 

 ing stick, and make off again. The slate is believed 

 in some way to poison the animal, and he often 

 dies within a short time. The natives go home, 

 return in a few days, and, if lucky, find the whale 

 in the same bay. Whales are plenty, and were 

 sometimes annoying to us, playing too near our 

 otter boat. On one occasion we tried a shot at one 

 that was paying us too much attention, and per- 

 suaded the big chap to leave us in peace. 



Bad weather held us fast several days, but we 

 finally made the southeast corner of the island, and 

 from there had good wind to Kadiak. On our way 

 we passed Uyak, one of the blue fox islands. Rais- 

 ing these animals for their fur has become a regular 

 business, and when furs are high it pays well. The 

 blue fox has been found to be the only one that 

 multiplies well in comparative captivity, and he 

 thrives on salmon flesh. 



At Wood Island, news came to us through pros- 

 pectors, of a bear in English Bay, south of Kadiak 

 village. This bay is well known as a good bear 

 ground, and at the end of the bay there are some 

 huge iron cages weighing tons which were used as 

 bear traps, some years ago, by men working for 

 the Smithsonian Institution. 



257 



