ARCTIC WALRUS. 
the head ; or, to preserve them from injury, 
cut off the head, and boil it in a cauldron. The 
blubber is afterwards cut into long slices, and 
carried to the ship. A middle-sized tooth 
weighs three pounds ; and an ordinary W airus 
furnishes half a tun of oil, which is nearly as 
much esteemed as that of the Whale. It Is 
equally difficult to follow the Walrus as the 
Whale, and the harpoon is often darted in 
vain; because the Whale is more easily pierced, 
and the harpoon does not slip so readily. The 
Walrus is often struck three times, with a 
strong sliarp spear, before it's hard thick skin 
is penetrated. It is necessary, therefore, to 
strike in a place where the skin is well stretched : 
for this reason, the fishers aim at the eyes of 
the animal, which obliges it to turn it's head, 
and stretch the skin of the throat or breast ; 
and then the blow is given in this place, and the 
spear quickly retradled, to prevent the creature 
from seizing it with it's teeth, and wounding it's 
assailant, either with it's teeth, or even with 
the spear, as has been sometimes known to 
happen. The attack on a small board of ice 
never lasts long ; because the Walruses, whe- 
ther wounded or not, throw themselves quickly 
into 
