BOAS.] SEAL HUNTING. 475 



Wlien the day begins to dawn the Eskimo prepares for tlie Imnt. 

 The dogs are harnessed to the sledge and the hunting implements are 

 fitted up. The harpoon line and the snow knife are hung over the 

 deer's antlers, whirli arc attacli.Ml to tlic hind part nf tlir slcd-v. a seal 

 or hear skin is hislicl u]H.nllif iM.ttoni. and tlic sp, ar s,-,-ur,.,l niider 

 thela.shing. The liuutfr takes up the wliii. and tin' dogs set otl'lnr the 

 hunting ground. When near the place where he expects to find seals, 

 the himter stops the team and takes the implements from the sledge, 

 which is then ttrrned upside down. The points of the runners and the 

 short brow antler are i^ressed into the snow in order to prevent the 

 dogs from running away. A dog with a good scent is then taken 

 from the team and the Eskimo follows his guidance until a seal's hole 

 is found. In -R-inter it is entirely covered with snow, but generally a 

 very small elevation indicates the situation. The dog is led back to 

 the sledge and the hunter examines the hole to make sure that it is 

 still visited by the seal. Cautiously he cuts a hole through the snow 

 covering and peeps into the excavation. If the water is covered 

 with a new coat of ice the seal has left the hole and it would be in 

 vain to expect its return. The hunter must look for a new hole 

 promising better results. 



Fig. 395. Siatko or harpoon head of the IgUUir- Fig. 39G. Siatko found at Exeter Sound. iFroma 

 miut. (From Parry n, p. S-W.) dra-.viug by L. Kumlien.) 



If he is sure that the seal has recently visited a hole he marks its 

 exact center on the top of the snow and then fills up his peep liole 

 with small blocks of snow. All these preparations must be made 

 with the utmost precaution, as any change in the appea.ranc(' of the 

 snow would frighten away the seal. The Eskimo take particular 



