The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-02-08
KILLING SEA OFFERS
Aleuts Conduct the Chase in
Canoes Oh the Open Sea.
HOW THE OFFERS ARE CAUGHT
Exciting Ocean Hunting of Vancouver Island
How the Frail Fleets Outride
Storm.

How the Frail Fleets Outride
Storm.
Sannakh island, the largest of group
of the same name, with its surrounding
reefs, rocky lodges, and islets, is neyerthe-
less the richest hunting ground in Alaskan
waters. Parties of hunters from the main
land to the north and east and the innu-
merable islands to the east and west, may
be found here at all seasons of the year,
living in tents of skin or canvas or hastily
constructed barabaras crude huts of earth
and dried grass, diligently watching for
the rare intervals of weather when the sea
is sufficiently smooth to warrant their put
ting out with some prospect of successful .
hunt for the sea otter and seal.
1t is only at time when the sea is 1
smoothest that the hunters may set forth /
with any promise or hope of success, and I
in the inhospitable and boiSterous weather /
of this section of Alaska such days are of
the rarest occurrence, weeks and even /.
months often passing ere the hunters have !
an opportunity of trying their skill with
bow and spear. The long looked for quiet
day having at length arrived, the party,
after a brief invocation of the mightier
spirits, embarks, fully equipped, two and
two, in their bidarkas.
A bidarka is a sort of canoe made of the
skin of the sea lion or hair seal stretched
over a light wooden frame, and, though
seldom exceeding 25 feet in length by 30
inches in breadth, and weighing less than
100 pounds yet so strong are they that, ex-
elusive of crew of 800 pounds, goods ag-
gregating as much as 500 pounds are often
carried in them. With the exception of
two circular holes equidistant from either
end and from each other, in which the oc-
cupants of the frail craft squat. the bidar-
ka is completely decked over.
EQUIPPED FOR STORMS.
Clad in their kamlelkas, waterproof
shirts of whale, seal or bear intestines, the
bottoms of which they fasten around the
combngs of the matches, their sleeves Sc
cured tightly to the wrist, and the opening
for the head drawn up closely about the
neck, whole seas might wash entirely over
both boat and occupants without drop
of water getting inside. This is a necessary
precaution, as, though smooth and calm
at the start, it is quite possible, and even
likely, owing to the long distance which
they have to CO. that the party may meet
with heavy weather ere they reach the
land.
As an additional security when the sea
is too heavy to make Roadway against,
, they collect in groups of three or four ca
noes anG, lashing them together, ride out
the storm in safety When any water finds
its way inside, which it sometimes does
through the seams of the skin, it is pumped
out by means of a small wooden tube
, which the native sucks full, then by re-
t moving his finger, which he has placed
| over the lower end of the tube, to retain
, its contents until clear of the bidarka, the
water runs out into the sea. The operation
is continued until the boat is dry.
Once started on a voyage the peredovchik
or leader assumes entire command and
: silence falls on the little fiotilla. When in
his opinion they are nearing the vicinity
: of their quarry he makes a sign, and i'm
| mediately, without a word being uttered,
, the canoes separate, forming huge semi
circle, each bidarka from fifty to a hun
bred yards distant from the next and the
occupants keeping always a vigilant look
out both on the surface of the water and
the other boats.
KILLING THE OTTER.
: AS soon as hunter sights the glossy
, head of an otter he raises his paddle and
y points in the direction in which the animal
+ was SEEN The scattered bidarkas then
Y close up 50 as to form an extended circle
/, about the spot indicated and still in silence
, await the temperance of the otter. This
y is sure to be in about ten minutes, as at
the end of that interval he must come to
!" the surface to breathe, going down again
: after remaining there a few seconds.
I Should he come up within the circle OF
boats they gradually close in, beating the
r water with their paddles to bewilder the
animal and keep it within the ever narrow
>. ing ring Occasionally, however, the otter
=, afSer diving, alters his course, and appear
ing at distance without the line, the
> canoes are thus compelled to change theil
base before finally securing the prize.
d As soon as the pursued animal show!
h himself within spears throw the earnest
t. hunter, rising to his knees, hurls shat
|. at it. Lodging in its skin near the head
|. we will say, the otter Immediately tries tt
dive In view of this trait the spear i
constructed in just such a manner as to re
II tard it's progress as much as possible. IT.
+ that end the head is set so loosely in it
II socket that the recoil of striking cause
5, the shaft to detach itself, leaving the heat
y securely imbedded in the flesh.
/ Wound round and round the shaft is
~ line cora or line Oh DrdlQeu SlHeW SOIL
!, three or four feet in length One end o
= this is attached near the base of the barbet
% ivory head, while the other eliminates il
IL bride, each end of which is secured t.
Is either extremity of the shaft
)e DIVIDING THE SPOILs.
1t This causes it to drag broadside to, il
h which position it offers the greatest resist
N ance to the water. On some spears ther
n is attached near the foot an inflated blad
der used as buoy, though it also acts a
an additional drag.
Naturally with all this to prevent hi
r. rapid escape, the otter shortly comes t
70 the surface, pretty we'll exhausted with hi
exertions, and at no great distance froI
:, where he was first struck. As he make
u his appearance spears, arrows and dart
lie are now indifferently launched at his d.
OF voted body. The poor animal dives RAJ
t. idly and frantically endeavors to escap,
ne but worn out from his tiresome effort
er and bleeding wounds, his motions hay
al less energy and vigor, and he soon float
n up to receive his death stroke. The ca
cass is then skinned in the water, care b.
III ing taken not to dislodge any spear or a
u' row heads from the skin, which is take
e. into one of the bidarkas, when, if til
OF weather still continues propitious, tn
as hunt continues.
e. On the return of the party to land eac
" otter skin is inspected by the chief in tt
~ presence of all hands, and the OWNERSHIP
:. of the different skins ascertained by NEAR
of the points imbedded therein, each
:" which is marked with the owners sign {