Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-24

the nineteen years that he has been killing
but three times, and the two sexes are very
similar As soon as he selects one he taps
him or the head light blow with long
stick that has large knob upon the end
of it. This stuns them and they are FIN
ished by the assistants, who crush the
skulls When as many are CHOSEN of this
small head as are wanted, the balance Of
them are driven beyond to a lake that
leads out to the rookeries and there Hber-
ated.
Generally there is a large bull with each
herd liberated, and he Immediately takes
charge of them and chases them back where
they came from as scientifically as shep-
herd dog would handle flock Of sheep.
Another small herd is driven up and treat
ed the sane way, and so on until all the
herd is picked over, unless the requisite
number is obtained before Just as fast
as the they are killed one body of men
drags them out SO they can be handled an
other body comes after that and sticks them
in the heart to bleed freely, while yet an
other rips the hide down the center of the
belly, from The mouth TO the fur line at Il e
tail cuts off the hippe1s and tail, and the
next body finishes the process of skinning
There is still another body that takes the
carcasses and cuts of that part which is
edible, viz: the liver and strip of steak
from the shoulders. The meat is very dark
colored but palatable and forms almost ex-
cIusively the meat food for the natives.
There are great numbers of sea birds
attracted by the carnage, and they come
in focks TO the slaughter grounds. The
oil IF Ea
and it is necessary for some Of the men to
tight them off with clubs to protect the
workmen.
Tie little boys are busy dragging the
fine seal skin cloaks over the ground to a
pile to be loaded IN carts ard hauled to
tie racking house, where they are thor
oughly sailed and rolled u two together.
These bundles are slowed in large watts to
await the compauy's steamers, Dora and
st. Paul, which are kept constantly ply
ing between the islands and San Francis
co.
The women have haversacks made of
walrus hide, which are fitted with arnl-
holes by means Of which they are strapped
to their backs. These are used to puck
the meat for eating purposes from the
Strengthening grounds to their various cot
ne drones among these people, and they
work cheerfully enoogh, too, sometimes,
singing or laughing and talking.
i'be day we were there it was very disa-
greeable. raining and seeting with driv-
ing wind that chilled one to the very
bones. These natives We're so clad, how
ever, that they did not mind the weather
They wore a garment that covered thfm
10 foo oil
1t looked to me to be made of about such
substance as this yellow wax paper the
grocers use TO cover parcels Of butter, and
had the appearance of being 1uted or CDR
rugated in small circles around the body.
1t looked SO curious that | veniured to ask
what it was of one CT the white men SUI
perintendipg, and he said that they made
these garments Of the entraiis of wa'rug
caught around the islands. They rip them
and dry them in the sun, and, though
they are as thin as tissue paper, they are
perfectly waterproof. These strips about
together with thread If the same material.
The legs are attached TO d pair of mecca
sin boots made of walrus hide, which Is
also waterproof. The arms terminate in
gloves of the garment material ard a
noOo IL dtt dCueu. Iuc SdiH Is OpeDeu
in front, from the waist up to the chin.
They get into this, button up, and, after
having been in the rain ali day, turn in at
night as dry as a powder horn. One Of
the oddities of this suit is the needle used
to sew it with. Every one has noticed The
peculiar whiskers that an ordinary tom
cat has; well, the seal has the same, from
the size of Tom to some more than a f7ot
loong, and as stiff and keen as steel. The
natives use thu small ones for needles for
clothing, and the large ones for sewing
their immense walrus hide canoes, some
OF them capacitated to carry one and
half to three tons. Ordinary sized whis-
kers ar commonly sold for tooth picks,
bringing about so cents per 100.