The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-11-13
Hunting the Walrus...A New PleN Il
+ Adventure in the Arctic. 81 4


Hunting the Walrus...A New PleN u
Adventure in the Arctic.
THE little schooner San Diego, Can't
Ca,hcsrt, arrlved'in port on Taesds,s.y
after five months cruise in pursuit 4
walrus among the islands of Behrus',
Sea. The ivory and oil of these huHee
hyperboreans are utilized for various
manufacturing purposes, but the market
heretofore has been supplied bywhalers
who, when whales were scarce, eked out
a cargo with the product of the walnu
To the usual articles of ivory and oil.
the San Diego has added the hides q
these immense animals. If they can be
extensively used, Notwithstanding must
speedily become a successful enterprise.
The San Diego, being only thirty,tuo
tons burden, is much too small = vess,l
for other than private adventure. Her
crew, composed of hardy, resolute men,
have, however, returned from their
cruise with remunerative cargo, and,
number of white and cinnamon ber
skins attest that their labors have not
been without incident. In a converse.
ton with James Morrison, the intelligent
Mate, he informed a Chronicle reporter
that walrus abound in immense numbers
among the islands of the Behring's Sea.
Like the seal, they Chamber up the rocks
and beaches, and, budding closely,
sleep for days without movement. In
this condition they can be readily ap.
preached, and by skillful marksmen
shot at will. The crew Of the San Diego
shot 700 in one shoal on the beach 1t
Hall Island, before the myriads com.
posing it took to the water for safety.
Many of them weighed over 5000
pounds. Owing to a violent storm but
200 of this number were secured. Near
Cape Uprig ut and the southeastern end
of St. Matthew'S Island, eighty-one
were shot, and another storm occurring
during which both anchors were lost,
obliged the return of the vessel before
the cruise was half completed. Here.
tofore the method of capturing walrus
has been with the harpoon. The alarm
which this method occasioned soon rem.
dered it impracticable. The plan.
adopted by the crew of the San Diego
was for each man, armed with a Win.
chester or Sharps' rifle, to approach
the sleeping animals cautiously, and
shoot at the particular portion Of the
skull covering the brain. Any failure
to penetrate the brain does not KILL
The front of the head is imperviots to-
bullet, and the neck is SO we'll protected
by the blubber that q ball produces No.
other effect than to alarm and excite the
animal, and thus cause the entire shOa
to take to the water. Every shot must
kill instantly, without producing ~
commotion, or the game disappear
The walrus is very stupid unless dig.
turbed, when it fights with great power.
Throwing its immense head back 20 "
to elevate the tusks to q horizontal po'
sition, it springs forward, and BY .
rapid move of the head is enabled 70
strike with unerring aim any object
within three or four feet. Woe to the
man or animal within that limit. Hell
transfixed in q moment. Fights among
the males are frequent and terrific, o.
ten terminating in the death Of one q
both. Few females are found in Ben
rings Sea during the summer mon!n
the theory among hunters being ny
they pass this season with their young
in the Arctic. and appear below we
straits late in the fall and winter. W.
like the seal, they have a habit Of s'eep'
ing in the water, with the head PG'
TALLY exposed. The ivory Of the s s..l.
rus sells readily for forty:6ye ana my
cents per pound. Billiard balls, cSas ~
heads, and all ivory articles u
similar size are made Of it here, -.
the larger part of it is sent to China an ~
used extensively in the man'ifactuiy'%; !"
Chinese ornaments. The oil is cquM ~
quality to whale oil, commands thess ..u
price, and is used for the same P9l
poses. The hides are from one nv, sns
half to two inches in thickness. W.
tanned they furnish a superior artls's ~
betting for heavy machinery, ana ,' az
unsurpassed for polishing silver l'Ms.
White bears are numerous in benIm e.
Sea, and the crew of the San Dleso .I I%
tanned the skins of seven or e,Sn. . .is"
thew shot on the islands. Trey c~ v
killed large number Of large clnns .''n;,s
bears in Alaska. On one occasion, WIN" m
engaged in the slaughter Of walr, .ss s ri
Hail Island, a hunter, while IN 'n p,. n
Of reloading his gun, startled by : : =. .oi Is
on the beach, looked around anu ~ .rhi.
great dismay beheld an enormous ~ 9Th n.
bear seated within twenty fee, o. wv. wv
spot he occupied. Dropping l DIS S"si
he started on q run, and was lo, h;m At
holly by the bear, who gained o on n,I his
every leap. A comrade perces' s,os;,us
danger, directed his aim at the .' 's't " iii
beast, and was fortunate enough ~ !" d;s.
him. but not until he was in leapla'!g ., u
lance Of his intended prey. the cn', and
of Behring's Sea is cold ana Iof fs1e and
daylight during the months OF .. "a' Surs.
July is Of about eighteen NJ n0 sasn there
ton. Very little ice is to DC , 70 hsrren,
in the summer; the islands are ;. ; for
and the whole region unprom:;;,m's, I,r.
any other than fishing and A., m .'ra.1 Of the
poses. Owing to the sha!loM vi 1i,rco,lent,
make make; a we very turbulent and d @s,sscs.
navigation fro'l'sco .'' Il
1T is best to look the in iasv't'0'S ="
,,., what IL is llkt'