204 INTRODUCTION OP' DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



position Ix'hind u ]>lock of ice or other ol)structioM. Occasionally a 

 hunter goes 2 or 8 miles out on the ice, and runs great risks thereby, 

 as the shifts of wind and changing currents often separate ice floats 

 and leave gaps between them. A hunter has to observe these condi- 

 tions ver}^ carefully. During December, January, February, and 

 March the hunting is carried on in the vicinity of the northern ter- 

 minus of Cape Chibukuk. Hair seals are secured during the winter 

 season, also walruses. 



WHALING. 



In April there are open stretches of water near the shore some- 

 times extending several miles, and whales are observed occasionally 

 and pursued in whaleboats. A dart carrying a rope either of hemp 

 or made from walrus skin, to which three pokes are attached, is shot 

 into the body of a whale at close range. The whale is tormented at 

 every appearance above the water. If it dies it is cut up and the bone 

 removed from the mouth and the meat and l)lub])er secured, and the 

 carcass then is left to sink to the bottom of the sea. The " bowhead"" 

 or " conunerciar'' whale is the species generally met with here, but 

 "right" whales are also to be found. 



BIG SEALS. 



The "'nnikluk" or big seal is secured during May and the tirst 

 week in June. They are not numerous. This species provides a thick 

 skin for the soles of water boots, as well as supplies blubber for oil 

 and food and also nuich meat. The liver of seals and walruses is, 

 after being boiled for three hours, very palatable, I find, tasting veiy 

 much like l)eef's liver. The fur seal is not found here. 



I)acki<. — Ducks arc shot or caught in nets, as described previously, 

 or caught by throwing over them pieces of ivoiy or bone about 1 inch 

 long, fastened b}^ sinew, so as to fold about the creature and impede 

 the motion of its wings. 



Eggs and crabs. — In the late spring a few duck and gulls' eggs are 

 found on the rocks of the promontor3\ A few crabs are picked uj) on 

 th(; shore. 



Di'iftwood. — Driftwood is found on the shore of the bay east and 

 south of the promontory, but not in any large quantity. On the south 

 shore of the island it is al)undant. 



Summer excursion,H. — During the summer a number of the people 

 leave Gambell and go in skin canoes to distant places along the shore 

 to spend three months hshiiig for salmon in the inland rivers, ducking, 

 hunting "spotted" seals on the southeast shore, and to secure drift- 

 wood. The canoes are drawn by dogs overland in places and also in 

 the water along the shore. Temporary lodges are consti'ucted for sum- 

 mer use. 



A few persons cross over to Indian Point for trade, going in whale- 

 boats on some very calm day. 



