Estimates were made during the spring of 1958 of the number of 
shots fired per walrus taken. At Diomede Island 360 shots were fired at 
70 walruses and 60 of these were killed. Of the 60, 23 were retrieved 
and the other 37 sunk. On those occasions when large groups of walruses 
are attacked the number of shots per animal is reduced. Eliminating the 
one such group from the Diomede figures yields an average of 37 shots per 
walrus killed. At Gambell, according to Thayer (1958), of 36 walruses 
attacked by hunters, 24 were shot and 12 of these recovered. The average 
number of shots fired was 8.8 shots per walrus retrieved and 4.4 shots 
per walrus hit. 
The cost of harvesting a walrus, exclusive of the hunters' 
time, is estimated at $15 to $20. 
Waste 
Fay (1958) reports on waste during hunting at Gambell. During 
the spring of 1958 when he was accompanying hunting parties, 82 walruses 
were shot at and hit; 34 of the adults and juveniles hit by rifle fire 
were wounded and their ultimate fate is unknown. "Probably at least 
half of these eventually died from loss of blood and wound infections 
for very few animals with healed wounds have ever been taken at Gambell." 
(Fay, 1958). Of the 48 killed, 6 sank before they could be retrieved 
and the remaining 42; that is, 5l percent of the total animals shot, were 
secured and butchered. These figures do not include calves because they 
are almost always secured regardless of the fate of their mothers. Fay 
(1958) further provides information on the recovery of walruses on ice 
versus those shot in the water. Twenty-nine of 53 animals shot on the 
ice were retrieved as compared to only 17 of 37 shot in the water. This 
represents 55 percent recovery of animals on the ice and 46 percent of 
those in the water. Of animals shot in the water Brooks (1954) noted 
that adult males and juveniles of either sex almost always sink whereas 
adult females often float. 
Kenyon provides similar information for 1958 hunting at 
Diomede. He says: "Of 141 adult walruses known killed, 85 (60 percent) 
were taken and 56 (40 percent) were lost. On 10 trips, when records were 
kept by non-native observers, the following figures were obtained: 
total kill 55, total taken 26 (47 percent);.... If calves are included 
(on the assumption that orphaned calves will die), the total animals 
known killed is 245, the take 117 (48 percent) and the loss 128 (52 per- 
cent) ." (Kenyon, 1958b). 
Thayer (1958), Fredericksen (1958), and Kenyon (1958b) all 
comment on the failure of Eskimo hunters to retrieve dead walruses. In 
their opinion, loss could be greatly reduced if the hunters would harpoon 
the animals as soon as they are dead, but the Eskimos' fear of having 
wounded walruses attack the boat often results in delay until they are 
sure the animal is dead. In Thayer's words "If the Eskimo hunters would 
get on the ball and promptly secure a dead floating walrus with a har- 
poon and seal skin float rather than milling around and endlessly 
discussing the situation, many walruses that are lost would be saved." 
22 
