CGOSHOMS "ORL Ef SKLITOS. 161 
spearing fish through the ice, and with good results if 
in the hands of an: expert. 
I tried fish spearing in the north, but lacked the 
patience necessary for success. Many times, however, 
I purchased from the Eskimos the magnificent trout and 
white-fish by which their efforts were rewarded. 
The way in which they spear is this: First, the most 
favorable spot of the lake or river is selected, and then 
a hole cut through the ice. With some kind of a bait, 
which they lower into the water by means of a string, 
they endeavor to attract the fish to the hole; when 
they appear they are thrust through by the spear and 
hauled out upon the ice. Great numbers of beautiful 
fish are caught by the Eskimos in this way during the 
fall and winter seasons. 
Trapping is not extensively followed, unless it is 
by the Eskimos living within reach of the Hudson’s 
Bay Company’s posts, perhaps because of the  in- 
‘efficiency of the native traps, but also owing to 
the comparatively shght value to the Eskimos of the 
animals which may be caught. For instance, the 
wolf is an animal little sought for, because his flesh is 
not considered good food, and his skin is no better for 
clothing than the skin of the deer, which is much more 
easily procured. So also with the fox. Both wolves 
and foxes are, however, caught to some extent by “dead 
fall” traps, built of stones, or of snow, and so arranged 
that when the animal enters the trap and touches the 
bait, a heavy stone is caused to fall and kill or imprison 
him. | 
The Eskimo, or “ Enuit,” as he calls himself, being of 
a jovial, merry disposition, has various forms of amuse- 
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