The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1880-10-09
Shooting the WaIrus.

speaking OF the return OF the schooner
San Diego, after five months cruise in
the pursuit of walrus among the islands
of Behring's sea, the San Francisco
Chronicle says: The ivory and oil of
these huge hyperboreans are utilized
for various manufacturing purposes, but
the market heretofore has been supplied
by whalers, who, when whales were
scarce, eked out cargo with the product
OF the walrus. 70 the usual articles of
ivory and oil the San Diego has added
the hides of these immense animals.
Walrus abound in immense numbers
among the islands of 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 skiilfui marksmen
shot at will. The crew of the San Diego
shot 700 in one shoal on the beach
at Hall island before the myriads
composing it took to the water for safe
ty. Many of them weighed over 5000
pounds. Owing to violent storm but
two hundred of this number were Sc
cured. Near Cape Upright and the
southeastern end of St. Matthew'S is
land eighty-one were shot, and another
storm occurring, during which both an
chors were lost, obliged the return of
the vessel before the cruise was half
completed. Heretofore the method of
capturing walrus has been with the har-
pooh. The alarm which this method
created soon rendered it impracticable.
The plan adopted by the crew of the
San Diego was for each man armed
with Winchester or Sharp's rifle, to
approach the sleeping animals Cautious
ly and shoot at the particular portion OF
the skull covering the brain. Any fail
ure to penetrate the brain does not
kill. The front of the head is i'm
pervious to q bullet, and the
neck is so well protected by the
blubber that ball produces no other
effect than to alarm and excite the ami
NAL, and thus cause the entire shoal TO
take to the water. Every shot must
kill instantly without producing any
connection or the game disappears.
The walrus is very stupid unless dis
turbed, when it fights with great power.
Throwing its immense head back so SIS
to elevate the tusks to horizontal posi-
ton, it springs forward, and by rapid
move Of the head is enabled to strike
with unerring aim any object within
three or four feet. Woe to the man or
animal within that limit. He is trans
fixed in moment. Fights among the
males are frequent and terrific, often
terminating in the death Of one
or both. Few females are found
in Behring's sea during the summer
months, the theory among hunters be-
ing that they pass this season with their
youn in the Arctic and appear below
, the straits late in the fall and winter.
Unlike the seal, they have habit Of
sleeping in the water with the head
partially exposed. The ivory of the
walrus sells readily for forty five or fifty
cents per pound. Billiard balls, cane
heads and all ivory articles of similar
size are made of it here, but the larger
part of it is sent to China and used ex-
tensively in the manufacture Of Chinese
ornaments. The oil is equal in quality
to whale oil, commands the same price,
and is used for the same purposes. The
hides are from one and half to two
inches in thickness. When tanned they
furnish superior article of betting for
heavy machinery, and are unsurpassed
for polishing silver plate.