spearing fish through the ice, and with good results if in the hands of an expert.
I tried fish spearing in the north, but lacked the patience necessary for success. Many times, however, I purchased from the Eskimos the magnificent trout and white-fish by which their efforts were rewarded.
The way in which they spear is this: First, the most favorable spot of the lake or river is selected, and then a hole cut through the ice. With some kind of a bait, which they lower into the water by means of a string, they endeavor to attract the fish to the hole; when they appear they are thrust through by the spear and hauled out upon the ice. Great numbers of beautiful fish are caught by the Eskimos in this way during the fall and winter seasons.
Trapping is not extensively followed, unless it is by the Eskimos living within reach of the Hudson's Bay Company's posts, perhaps because of the inefficiency of the native traps, but also owing to the comparatively slight value to the Eskimos of the animals which may be caught. For instance, the wolf is an animal little sought for, because his flesh is not considered good food, and his skin is no better for clothing than the skin of the deer, which is much more easily procured. So also with the fox. Both wolves and foxes are, however, caught to some extent by "dead fall" traps, built of stones, or of snow, and so arranged that when the animal enters the trap and touches the bait, a heavy stone is caused to fall and kill or imprison him.
The Eskimo, or "Enuit," as he calls himself, being of a jovial, merry disposition, has various forms of amuse-
