LIFE AT STELLINGEN 247 
platform carrying an upright post firmly fixed at the bottom. 
To this post is attached the end of the very long line 
fastened to the harpoon. When a walrus is to be har- 
pooned, a man stands upon the platform, with the line lying 
loosely upon it ready for use. After the animal has been 
harpooned, the line is drawn through a notch at the side 
of the boat, for it would, of course, be very dangerous 
if the walrus, in swimming backwards and forwards, were 
able to pull the line freely over the boat. Eight of these 
notches are provided, as it often takes several harpoons to 
kill one walrus. A boat’s crew consists of four men, of 
whom three row, while the fourth stands on the platform 
and hurls the harpoon. The distance at which it is usually 
thrown is about twenty-five yards; and I am told that the 
record is thirty-seven yards. As soon as it is harpooned 
the walrus dives, and the harpooner knows by the slackening 
or tightening of the line whether the animal is coming 
towards him or going in the opposite direction. In the 
latter case, which usually happens when females have been 
struck, there is not much danger ; but in the former case the 
crew have to be very sharply on the look-out, for the 
wounded animal will rise quite close to the boat and attempt 
to attack his enemies. But even when the line becomes 
taut and the creature swims rapidly away, the line often has 
to be cut to avoid being capsized. This-is especially frequent 
when the harpooned walrus has been lying on an ice-floe, 
and makes for the water on the opposite side of the floe from 
the boat. Similarly, when a walrus herd has been surprised 
whilst lying on the coast, it is usual first to kill the animals 
nearest the water, in order to block the way of escape for 
those which happened to be farther inland. When they 
have been harpooned the walruses are despatched as quickly 
as possible with guns, especially constructed by the Nor- 
wegians for the purpose. The capture of some of my last 
walruses nearly cost the hunters their lives ; for the young 
cubs which had been brought on board gave out such 
