THE ARCTIC 
141 
WATER 
Drinking water is not a fundamental problem in tbe [North. 
In summer water can be obtained from streams, lakes, or ponds. 
On the tundra pond water may have the color of teai because of 
stain from grass roots and other plants, but it is good to drink. 
In winter, snow and ice are melted for drinking. Whenever 
possible avoid eating snow or ice directly for it lowers body 
temperature and cuts down endurance. 
On the sea you can obtain good drinking water from old sea 
ice. Young sea ice is salty, like the water from which it was 
formed, but after a year it loses its salt and becomes fresh. 
Old sea ice can be distinguished by its smooth rounded corners 
and bluish color. Young sea ice is rougher and milky gray in 
color. In summer drinking water can be obtained from pools in 
the old sea ice. Avoid pools near the edge of the floe where 
saltwater spray may have blown in. 
FOOD 
Living off the country is not difficult in the North if one has 
or can make the necessary weapons or other means for killing 
or capturing land animals and fish. In the summer, shellfish 
can be collected along the shore. Fish are abundant in fresh 
water lakes, streams, and in the sea. Caribou and other land 
mammals may be found, and millions of ducks, geese and smaller 
birds come to breed on the tundra or the sea-cliffs. Since the 
sea freezes over in the winter and most of the birds go south, 
food resources then are more limited, and specialized hunting 
technioues are necessary. 
570603°— 44 10 
