THE ARCTIC 
attached at the middle. It is entirely covered with bait and 
is swallowed lengthwise by the fish. A poll on the line then 
turns it crosswise in the gullet. 
In winter fish can be caught at open leads or through holes 
cut in the ice. The hook should be barbless so that the fish 
can flop off as soon as it is hauled out, for in cold weather 
it is difficult to remove a barbed hook with bare fingers. 
Tom-cod and sculpin are the principal salt water fish that 
can be caught in winter. Bait is not necessary. A white stone 
used for a sinker, or a bit of shiny metal or brightly colored 
cloth tied just above the hook will attract the fish, jvhich can 
then be caught by jigging the line up and down. 
In fishing through the ice for lake trout or salmon the hook 
should be lowered to the bottom, then raised a few inches and 
kept constantly jigging. The best bait is a strip cut from the 
belly of a fish. 
Land Animals 
The caribou is the best all-round food animal on land in the 
American Arctic. Some caribou move south to forested country 
in the fall, but many remain on the northern islands and Barren 
Grounds throughout the winter. Approach them carefully, 
taking advantage of any cover, and try to get within 200 yards 
before firing. Be certain that you are down wind from them 
so that they cannot get your scent. 
Wolves, foxes, snow-shoe rabbits, lemmings, weasels, and field 
mice remain the year round and may be shot or trapped for food. 
Ground squirrels are found in summer but hibernate in winter. 
Musk-ox provide excellent food but are now found in only a few 
remote localities in the Far North. 
