ACKOSS THE SUB-AKCTICS OF CANADA 



steel blade point. The bar is fitted to a wooden handle by a 

 ball and socket joint, and stiffly hinged with thongs as in the 

 case of the harpoon. The object of the joint is tq prevent the 

 lance from being broken when thrust into a walrus, as other- 

 wise it would be by the animal plunging about. 



Equipped as above, the Eskimo hunters go out during the 

 season of open water in pursuit, of walruses, which, feeding 

 upon clams, are usually found about sandy shores or islands. 

 Single animals are sometimes found, but more commonly 

 they are in small herds. When feeding they remain in about 

 the same place, but can stay under water for only about three 

 minutes at a time. They come to the surface to breathe, 

 sport about for a short time, then go down to the bottom and 

 dig clams from the sand for some three minutes, rising 

 again to the surface. The Eskimo, taking advantage of their 

 necessity, advances on them only when they are busily occu- 

 pied at the bottom of the sea. When a walrus reappears at 

 the surface, the hunter, who with harpoon in hand and line 

 attached to float awaits its return, hurls his harpoon with 

 great force and precision, burying it deeply in the walrus's 

 flesh. 



The wounded monster, maddened by pain, plunges into the 

 water, dives to the bottom, and endeavors to escape. The 

 plunging readily causes the ball and socket joint of the har- 

 poon to give, and this allows the head of the harpoon, which 

 is buried in the animal, to become detached and form a 

 button on the end of the harpoon line. 



The detached handle floats upon the water, but the line is 

 securely fastened to the body of the walrus, which, in trying 

 to escape, takes with him the line and attached inflated seal- 

 skin; but though he may take this buoy under, and keep it 

 down for a short time, he cannot do so long. 



Soon it reappears at the surface, and the hunter, seeing it, 

 makes for the spot and awaits the returning walrus. The 

 moment his head appears, harpoon or lance is hurled at it 



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