The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-12-23
TIE ARCTIC SPRING.


In June, or as soon as q strong southerly
wind breaks the ice, the foes may be seen
covered with spotted seals basking in the
sunshine, each one ut itg own hole ready to
pop into the water ut the least alarm. 1t is
amusing TO go the bewilderment of young
pup when it has strayed away from its
mother. Raised ON its hind fippers, it
gives vent to series of pitiful cries, like
helpless baby, until it hears the whine Of
the mother and drags itself back to her
care. Gulls of numberless variety are now
our visitors, from the pure white agile kind
to the dark brown guillemote and black
whale bird. Over the pools of water on the
ice they fly round and round, now wheeling
about, chasing each other in sport, curving
and swooping with graceful actions. Then,
as they rise from the waters surface, the
bright drops falling glisten in the sunbeams
like shower of gold.
When the little creek by the house burst
its icy chains in May the noise of its rip.
pling and leaping over the rocky obstacles
seemed like music to our ears. accustomed
as they were to the silence of the past win.
ter, and its murmur like welcome to the
coming spring. How lovely are the even
ings of the Arctic springtide The sunset
is followed by pale yellowish tint on the
western horizon, under which the ice CLEANS
and glows like field of gold. Fading
away, this yellowish light is succeeded by
soft grayish tint, which does not deepen,
but enables one to read throughout the en-.
tire night. So evenly diffused is this light
hat there is not the faintest approach to
shadow, and a solemn sense Of calm repose
rests on land and sea, the birds and animals
seeking repose as if total night prevailed.
But brief space and the sun rises again in
full glory, touching the eastern sky with
roseate hues and the merry ohirping and
singing of our feathered visitors is again
heard. Man alone in these regions needs no
resting time. The natives sleep but little
during the spring and summer. For to
hem spring is the whaling period, the time
for laying in stock of whale meat and blub-
Der for the winter, time to chase the fleet
oowhend to obtain the precious bone for
barter with the white stranger At this
period men and women remain on the ice
for days, eating raw seal meat or blubber,
cooked food being inadmissible when they
are engaged catching whales. When the
big fish is caught it is hacked and cut up
and taken by sleds to the village, every one
receiving piece of flesh or blubber. Young
whale meat is not to be despised, and the
thick black skin, with a super tissue of
creamy white fat is good when fresh. So,
too, the white cartilagenous matter at the
bnse of the gums is eaten, resembling in
taste the flavor of hazel nut.
But even the Arctic spring has il unpleas.
INT side. The heat of the sun, acting upon
the dark and soggy lands and upon the vast
ice fields, causes dense vapor to rise, rem.
dering navigation hazardous and trouble
some. Then, too, the continued prevail
snce OF southerly winds drives the ice into
compast mass in tho distant whaling
grounds, and unless northerly winds sets
in the ships are prevented from WORKING
their way to the limits. So the brief snn,.
mer steals over these inhospisable regions.
lasting but three months, When the snow
begins to fall again and the ices embrace ia
once more over sea and land Correspond.
sat Of The San Francisco Chronicle.