64 



is on a perpendicular cliff, rising from the water to a height 

 of several hundred feet, the birds occupying a space about 

 half a mile in length, and from a few feet above high tide to 

 the very top, and every projection of rock is covered with 

 birds, so that standing room appears to be at a premium. 

 Hunting at this rookery is little short of murder, for the 

 stupid birds can be clubbed from their insecure perches or 

 netted by the hundreds. Approaching the cliff in his kayak, 

 the hunter gently presses his net against bird after bird that 

 in its struggles to escape thrusts its head into the meshes of 

 the net which entraps it. Each bird is quickly drawn to the 

 hunter and dispatched, those remaining not being at all dis- 

 turbed and the space made vacant by one is immediately 

 occupied by another. When the sea is smooth the natives 

 often climb upon the ledges of rock and club the Murres, 

 hundreds being killed in this way in a very short time. The 

 hunters frequently meet with accidents at this rookery for 

 the perpendicular cliff and a heavy swell make ' kayaking ' 

 dangerous. 



Puffins (Fratercula arctiea glacialis) and Eider Ducks 

 (Somateria mollissima borealis and S. spectabilis) are much 

 prized by the natives and are killed by spearing from the 

 kayak. The spear is simply a sharpened rod of iron set mto 

 the end of a light shaft. At fifteen or twenty yards the 

 hunter seldom misses his mark. Ptarmigans (Lagojjus lago- 

 pus) are also taken, but in very limited numbers as they are 

 not common. Dovekie and Murre skins are used throughout 

 the tribe for making clothing, and hundreds of them are pre- 

 served each year for this purpose. In removing the skin, the 

 wings are cut off near the body, and the skins are cut loose 

 at the base of the neck and stripped over the body. The 

 Eskimo's simple, but effective method for removing all fat 

 and making the skins soft and pliable, is to give them a 

 thorough chewing. 



It would be impossible to estimate the number of birds 



