is clear enough and ice-free enough to permit hunting. For example, 
during the period 1952 to 1958 at Gambell on St. Lawrence Island, hunt- 
ing took place on 84 of 217 days according to Fay (1958). This is an 
average of one day of hunting for each 2.6 calendar days during the 
spring migration. Data from Diomede provided by Kenyon for 1958 indi- 
cate hunting on one of each 1.8 calendar days. No information is 
available on hunting at other locations. 
Almost all walrus hunting at Gambell, Savoonga, King Island, 
and Diomede is done from boats during the spring season. The boats, 
known as umiaks, used in these locations are walrus skin covered from 
about 20 to 32 feet long, and are powered by an outboard motor set at 
the stern or in a well near the stern of the boat (figure 8). At 
Savoonga and Gambell the boats are also equipped with sails, and at all 
locations are on occasion propelled by paddles. At Point Barrow hunting 
is done from wooden inboard launches. 
Each boat is equipped with one, or more often two, outboard 
motors, one of which is used as a spare. In addition, each boat carries 
two or three, or occasionally more, harpoons, each attached to a seal 
skin float by a rawhide line made of walrus calf skin. At Gambell the 
harpoons are of steel or brass; at Diomede many are still of bone or 
ivory with metal tips (figure 9). The average boat crew consists of 
five or six people at Gambell and up to 10 at Little Diomede. 
Each man is equipped with a rifle and ammunition. Almost all 
available calibers are represented. At Gambell the predominant types 
are .222, .220, .270, 30-30, and 30-06. At Little Diomede about the same 
weapons are used, and are listed by Fredericksen (1958) in the following 
order of popularity: 30-30, 25-35, 30-06, .308, .222, and the 22 Hornet. 
Kenyon (1958b) has the following additional comments to make: "Gun 
sights of various home manufacture, some loose and held in position with 
paper, splinters, etc, were not uncommon.... Rust and corrosion had 
damaged many firearms. Between hunts, guns are sometimes left stored 
(unoiled and with adhering salt spray) under the boats. Jamming was not 
unusual." 
The following description, quoted from Kenyon (1958b) refers 
to Little Diomede, but is almost equally applicable to Gambell, Savoonga, 
King Island, and Wales: 
"When leads begin to open near the south end of Little Diomede 
in May the skin boats are hauled over the shore ice from the village 
to a location near open water. When pack ice closes in the hunters 
keep lookouts posted on the cliffs to watch for walrus and/or open 
leads. When open water is available the boats cruise as far as 
possible. Usually only a mile or two when fields of pack ice are 
numerous. Frequent steps are made, so that binoculars may be used 
from vantage points on the ice to search for game and open water 
(figure 10). In order to return to the shore ice, the boat must 
18 
