Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-05-16

kind of hunting ~ ue.s. now made
OF Irvine. formerly OF sincw. with
wooden floatcvs above. iron Sinkcrs be
low. are spread athwart the kelp fields.
The tile sweeps in. washing the net
fat. AuC tho sen otter swills in with
the tide The tide sweeps out. wishing
The net up. but the offers are enmcshed
in tau-.c that holds neck and feet.
This is perhaps the best kind OF otter
hunting, FOR the females and young can
he thrown back I'm the sea.
For provisions the Aleut has brought
very little from the ship He will de
pend on the winds driving in dead
whale or ON the fish Of the shore or on
the eggs OF the sea birds that nest on
those rocks millions upon millions. such
myriads ~ birds they seem To crowd
each other for foot room. and the noise
of their wings Is like great wind. He
himself is what any race OF men would
become n generations OF such a life.
His skin is more like bronze than leath-
er. His chest Is like bellows. but his
legs are III developed from the cramp-
ell posture OF knees IN the mauhole.
No landsman's still hunt affords the
thrilling excitement OF the otter hunt
cr's speAring surrounds. Fifteen or
twenty-five little skin skITs. with two
pr three men in each. paddle out under
chief elected by common consent.
Whether fo- or clear. the snearing IS
done only in calm weather.
The long line Of bldarkaS circles 81
lently over the silver sea. Not q word
IS spoken. not a paddle blade allowed
90 click against the bone r.unwales OF
the skin. Double hladcd paddles are
frequently used. 50 shift OF paddle is
made from side To side Of the canoes
without-a change OF hands. The skin
bidarkaS take TO the water as noise
lessly rs the glide OF = duck. Yonder.
where the powders lie mile on mile
awaSh i'm The surf. kelp rafts-forests
OF seaweed--lift and fan with the
rhythmic wash Of the tide. Hither the
otter hunters steer. silent rs shadows.
Tie circic widens. deploys, forms a
Gordon around the outermost rim Of the
kclp fields
suddenly black object is seen float
ing on the silver surface Of the waters
"A sea otter asleep. Quick as q fash
the SteerSman lifts his paddle Not Il
word is spoken, but so keen is the hear
ing of the sleeping otter the drip OF the
lifted paddle has not splashed into the
sea before the otter has awakened,
looked. dived like lightning To the bot
tom ere one of the Aleut hunters can
hurl his spear. Silently, not whisper,
the StccrSman signals again. The
hunters dCpioy in a circle half 4 mile
broad around the place where the sea
otter disappeared, FOR they know that
IN fifteen or twenty minutes the animal
must come up for breath. and it can
not swim farther than half n mile I'M
der sea before it reappears.
suddenly somebody sees a round
black-red head poke above the water.
perhaps close to the line of watchers.
With wild shout the nearest bidarkas
dart forward Whether the spear
throw has hit or missed the shout has
done enough, The terrified otter dives
before il has breath. Over the second
diving spot hunter Is stationed. and
the circle narrowS for the otter must
! Noilt Nlt QulCNct tlilS Nule. II must
have breath. Again and again the lit
/ tie round rufouS head peeps up. Again
the shout greetS Il. Again the light
ming dive, Sometimes only a bubble
/ gurgling at the top of the water guides
/ the watchers. Presently the body is so
| full of gases from suppressed breath
( ing il can no longer sink. and quick
/ spear throw secures the quarry.
Perhaps forty men have risked their
lives for single pelt for which the
trader cannot pay more than $40, for
he must have his profit. and the skin
must be dressed, and the middlemen
must have their profit. 80 that II il sells
! even FOR S1.1OO in London. though the
! average is nearer $50 the Aleut is
lucky to receive $40 or $50 Day after
/ Gay three months at time. warm OF
cold, not daring ia light fires on the is
| land, the Aicut hunters go out To the
! spe2rlng surround It'll the schooner re
I tUrns Tor SEM from the main post, and