202 INTRODUCTION OB^ DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



material, with cups, also wood, contain the food at the meals. There 

 are a number of tin and agate and china articles, such as pans, mugs, 

 and spoons, with some iron teakettles, to be observed among them. 

 The summer lodge consists of walrus skins supported ])y poles 



FOOD. 



Meat obtained from seals, walruses, and whales, together with the 

 blubber, with ducks and codfish, serve as the staple food. Some sal- 

 mon are secured in the rivers during sunnnor and some cod in the sea. 

 Kelp is cooked and relished. The salmon and marsh berries are 

 eagerl}^ eaten. A small plant furnishes an edible root, which is 

 allowed to sour l)efore it is eaten. 



IMPORTED FOOD. 



Flour, tea and cotfee, pilot bread, evaporated fruits, canned pre- 

 serves, candies, sugar, molasses, vinegar, prunes, and raisins are greatly 

 sought after by these natives. In the future reindeer meat may serve 

 as a staple food, along with imported food. 



In the larger room of the house one o])serves **■ water butts" which 

 serve as lockers. Whalebone, ivory, seal and walrus skins, and rope, 

 together with various tools, are seen lying about. 



TOOLS. 



The people use a hand adz of native construction, axes, hammers, 

 augers, bits, saws, files, nails, locks, pegs, knives, and other devices of 

 the Caucasian. 



WEAPONS. 



Rifles of modern manufacture, shotguns, pistols, and darting guns 

 are used. Harpoons are still used, made of wood with ivory heads. 

 The harpoon is a retriever. Pokes made of l)lown-up seal skins are 

 fasten(>d to ropes to which the dart is attached. These locate the pres- 

 ence of a whale after he has been struck and partly keep him from 

 a deep plunge. One poke is used for a large walrus and three for a 

 whale. 



Traps and snares secure foxc^s. A circular net attached to a long- 

 pole is used in catching ducks. Fish lines, imported and of native 

 construction, mad(^ of three strips or threads from whale])one, are used 

 in catching fish. The native hooks are not very efi'ective, except for 

 a very imsophisticated fish. They are not baited save with ])its of red 

 calico or flamiel. Generally, imported hooks, baited with nnuit, are 

 used. Ducks are snared in the water frequently. When a duck is 

 shot and falls in the water and the person is on the shore, the duck is 

 secured by throwing a seal hook and drawing in to shore. The seal 



