AND MODE OF USING IT. 35 



fatlioms deep, and even if tlie water sliould 

 happen to exceed that depth, he is not able to 

 drag the boat under, from inability to exert 

 his full strength when subjected to the pres- 

 sure of twelve or fifteen fathoms of water. 

 The lines are made of 2-inch tarred hemp 

 rope, very soft laid, and should be of the 

 very finest materials and best possible work- 

 manship. 



There are generally four shafts for the har- 

 poons, and it is not customary to keep more 

 than one mounted, unless when walruses are 

 actually in sight : they are made of white 

 pine poles twelve or thirteen feet long, planed 

 down to about an inch and a half or an 

 inch and a quarter in thickness, and are 

 tapered to a point for about four inches at 

 one end to make them fit into the sockets 

 of the heads : after placing a harpoon on a 

 shaft it is fixed by striking the butt end of 

 the shaft smartly against a little block of 

 wood, which is fixed for the purpose between 

 two of the timbers of the boat, about fifteen 

 feet from the bow, and on the starboard 

 side. 



The harpoons are used either for thrusting 



» D 2 



