The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-08-10
HUNTING THE wALRUS.
How the Sen Horse In Killed in the Nor,
Seas by the Hardy Norwegian sniIors,

How the Sen Horse Ia Killed in the North
Seas by the Hardy Norwegian Sailors.
The crew OF q vessel outfitted for the
season in the Spitzbergen seas must con-
sist at least OF a captain, couple of
men to act as harpooners or mates, and
six or eight experienced seamen: and
the vessel must be equipped with har-
poons, lines, lances, seal hooks, axes.
blubber knives, oars, shafts (for lances
and harpoons), casks for blubber, salt
for skins, and ample provisions for the
crew. A couple of boats are indispensa-
BILE.
A well constructed walrus boat, for
five men, is about twenty one feet long,
with five-foot beam, having the main
breadth one.third from the bow. 1t
must be bow shaped at both ends, and
easily turned upon its own center. The
harpooner sits in the bow. A deep notch
is cut in the sternpiece Of the boat, and
three others in piece of hard wood on
each side of it; these are for the lines,
which must be prevented from slipping
further aft on the gunwales than the
notches, as, if they do, the boat may up
set. The boats are painted white, to re-
semble the ice. Each boat is usually
provided with six harpoons, used for
both seal and walrus. A line of twelve
or fifteen fathoms is grummeted to the
harpoon head, and when the harpoon is
thrust into an animal the struggles draw
the line tight; the largo outer barb takes
up loop III the hide or flesh, and the
smaller inner barb, like that of fish.
| nook, prevents it from becoming olsen
| gagged. The harpoons are thrown from
shafts OF twelve or thirteen feet in
length, and an inch and half in thick
ness, the ends being pointed to fit into
the sockets of the heads. The harpoops
are placed and fixed on these shafta. and
are used IN this manner for either thrust
ing or darting. A sEillful harpooner
will throw one with sufficient force and
precision to secure seal or walrn
thirty feet distant.
-Four or five heavy lances, with large
shafts, are required to dispatch the sea
horse. In the case of seals a lance is
not used, as it spoils the skin, and here
the seal hook, which is driven or stuck
into the brain, is had recourse to. Two
axes are necessary, one large one for de-
capitating dead walruses, and another
small, handy Ak, for cutting the line
S'~So't viz lIuuCuN6IS VI ul9 WalruS
threaten to capsize the boat. Blubber
KNIVES, half dozen or so, are needed
Tor hensino, that is, stripping the skin
and blubber from the animals when
caught. An ice anchor, purchase blocks,
etc, are also employed. A good guam
tlty OF food should also be slowed in the
boat before leaving the ship for chase,
as circumstances, such as floating ice, or
foggy weather, may intervene to prevent
approach for ten, or even twenty or
more DAYS.
Sometimes herd of, perhaps, hun
dred roaring, believing, blowing, snort
ing, and slashing walruses, accompanied
by acres Of foam, arc encountered. The
narpooner stands with one foot in the
thwart; the other on the front locker of
his boat; the line is coiled in his right
hand, and the long shaft of the harpoon
grasped IN both, the weapon balanced
ready for dart. In this position he di-
rects the course of the crew, as he can
frequently, standing upright in the bow
OF the boat, see the walruses under wa
ter. The herd keep close together, and
dive simultaneously. One moment a
hundred grizzly heads and long gleam-
ing white tusks are seen above the
waves; one spout from their blow holes. |
one breath of fresh air, and then they |
disappear. On goes the boat, up come |
the sea horses again. They are pretty |
close this time, and before they can |
draw breath the boat is in the midst of |
them; the harpoon whizzes through the |
air, the line is drawn tight over the gun
vale, and wairus is "fast." The wal |
rus struggles madly to draw the boat
under an iceberg, but after while the
lines are drawn in, and vigorous appli.
cation of the lance soon settles the bust
ness. The skin and blubber are then |
hensed from the animal, and the carcass
sinks.
The walrus is said to be an inoffensive
beast, but hunting him is far from
chlld's play. Instances are related
where sailors have been gored and torn
to pieces upon their tusks. The sides
Oh boats have also been considerably
and, IN many cases, irremediably dam.
aged by them. Some time ago captain
was seized by an infuriated COW walrus
ana twice dragged to the bottom of the
sea, and very narrowly escaped drown
ing. They frequently fight among them
selves upon the ice, and use their tusks
with considerable execution, as game
COCKS use their beaks. These tusks are
enlargements and notifications of the
eye teeth, and are embedded six or
seven inches in the hard bone of the
front part of the head. They are used
for plowing the sand at the bottom of
the sea in search of food. The calf wal
rus has no tusks the first year. The sea
horse has terrific mustache of strong,
transparent, bristly hair, about six
inches long and thick as a crow quill;
The eyes are fierce looking and blood
shot; and the head, as seen above water,
presents somewhat of a demoniacal ap-
Dearance