Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-18
NO. 246.
Miseellaneous.
SHOOTING THE WALRUS.
\ NEW FIELD OF ApvENrURE AND PROFIT
IN THE ARCTIC.

The little schooner san Diego. Capt.
Catncart. arrived in port on Tuesday after
\ five months cruise in pursuit of walrus
among the islands OF Behring's Sea. The
ivory and oil of these huge hyperboreans
are utilized for various manufacturing
purposes. but the market heretofore has
been supplied by waalers who. when whales
were scarce, eked out cargo with the
product of the walrus. To 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. huddlins. closely. sleep for
days without movement. In This con-
dition they can be rea,lly approached. and
by skilliul marksmcn. shot at will. The
crew of the San Diego shot seven hundred
in one shoal on the beach at Hall Island
before the myriads composing it took TO
the water for safety. Many of them
weighed over 5000 pounds. Owing to
violent storm but two hundred of this
number We're secured. Near Cape Up
right and the southeastern end of st. Mat
thew's Island elghty-one We're shot, and
another storm occurring. during which
/
of the vessel before the cruise was half
completed.
Heretofore the method of capturing
walrus has been with the harpoon. The
alarm which this method created soon
rendered it timpracticable. The plan adopt
ed by the crew of the San Diego was for
each man armed with Winchester or
Sharps rifle. To approach the sleeping an
imals cautiously and shoot at the particu-
lar portion of the skull covering the
brain. Any failure to penetrate the brain
does not kill. The front of the head is
imprevious to bullet, and the neck is so
well protected by the blubber that ball
produces no other effect than to alarm and
excite the animal, and thus cause the en-
tire shoal To take to the water. Every
shot must kill instantly withous produc-
ing any commoion or the game disap-
pears. The walrus is veiv stupid unless
disturbed. when it fights with great pow
er. Throwing its immense head back so
as to elevate the tusks TO II horizontal po-
siton, il springs forward. and by rapid
move of the head is enabled to strike with
unerring aim anv object within three or
four feet. Woe To tie man or animal
within that limit He is translixed in a
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 hunt
ers being that they pass this season with
their young in the Arctic and appear be-
low the straits late in the fall and winter.
Unlike the seal. they have habit of sleep
ing in the water with the head partially
exposed. The ivory of the w,lrus sells
readily for forty-fivc or fifty cents
per pound. Billiarb balls. cane
heads. and all ivory articles Of similar
size are made of it here, but the larger
part of il is sent to China and used extern
sivey in the manufacture of Chinese orna-
ments. 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 q
superior article of betting FOR heavy ma
chinery, and are unsurpassed for polish
ing silver plate.
White bears are numerous in Behring's S
Sea. and the crew of the San Diego OBJ
tanned the skins ofseven or eight that they
shot on the islands They also killed u
number of large cinnamon bears in Alas
ka. On one occasion. while engaged in
the slaughter Of walrus on Hall Island a
hunter, while in the act of reloadng his
gun. startled by rustic on the beach,
looked around, and, TO his great dismay.
beheld an enormous white bear seated
within twenty feet ofthe spot he occupied,
Dropping his gun, he started on run,
and was followed hotlv bv the bear, who
gained on him at every leap. A comrade,
perceiving his danger. directed his aim at
the ferocious beast. and was fortunate
enough to kill him, but not until he was with
in leaping distance ofhis intended prey. The
climate Of Behring's Sea is cold and fog
gy, and daylight during the months Of
June and July is of about eighteen hours
duration. Very little ice is to be seen
there in the summer; the islands are bar
ren. and the whole region unpromising
for any other than fishing and maritime
purposes. Owing TO the shallowness OF
the water, storms there. which are fre-
quent. make very turbulent and danger
Gus navigation Me San francisco
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