Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1913 — HAS NO CHANCE TO ESCAPE [ARTICLE]

HAS NO CHANCE TO ESCAPE

Seal Once Harpponed by Eskimo Hunter Cannot Fall to Become His Prey. When once he has gone to the trouble of splicing a fine spear handle the Eskimo dobs not wish to break it, so the point is put on with a toggle or joint. When a seal or walrus is harpooned the sudden struggle of the animal does not break the spdhr, but merely unjoints the point, and the more the animal struggles the more the point turns crosswise in the wound and the firmer the barbs take hold. But the animal cannot escape, for with thongs of skin the point is connected with the spear shaft The animal merely swims away or dives deep into the sea, carrying with him the spear. The long leather thong which is attached to it .uncoils from the deck of the kyack and plays out. It carries with it a drag like a kite, which retards the animal and exhausts him, but does not pull hard enough to break the lipe. Even this drag is made of skin stretched over a spliced framework. When the line is all played out it is seen to be attached to a float which is also carried on the deck of the boat This is made of an inflated skin. It has plugs and attachments cleverly carved from ivory, for wood is far too precious to be used in this land of ivory so far from the forests. The float serves as a buoy so that the Eskimo can follow the animal and find it after it gives up its struggle and dies. Then, too, the float keeps the catch from sinking aqd being lost in the' ocean’s depths.—Southern Workman.