Animal products; . ith the bullock and thewhale. It is often seen of the size of a great ox, and sometimesexceeds the dimensions of the gigantic elephant. The chase ofthe walrus in the Arctic regions is of great antiquity. They usedto congregate by thousands on the Magdalen Islands in the River THE WALRUS OR SEA HORSE. 285 St. Lawrence, but have long been driven far to the north, by theirpursuers. The economic products for which this animal is sought are itsflesh and its skin, its oil and teeth. Among the inhabitants ofthe Arctic regions its flesh is much valued and esteemed, and isgreedily ea
Animal products; . ith the bullock and thewhale. It is often seen of the size of a great ox, and sometimesexceeds the dimensions of the gigantic elephant. The chase ofthe walrus in the Arctic regions is of great antiquity. They usedto congregate by thousands on the Magdalen Islands in the River THE WALRUS OR SEA HORSE. 285 St. Lawrence, but have long been driven far to the north, by theirpursuers. The economic products for which this animal is sought are itsflesh and its skin, its oil and teeth. Among the inhabitants ofthe Arctic regions its flesh is much valued and esteemed, and isgreedily eaten along with the lard, and even the skin. In ancient times most of the ropes in the vessels of northerncountries, appear to have been made of walrus skin, and when cutinto shreds and plaited into cordage, it formed lines which wereused for the capture of the whale; these also answer admirablyfor tiller-ropes; cables, too, were wont to be manufactured fromthem, and the Finlanders used to pay tribute to the king in. WALRUS SKULL, SHOWING THE POWERFUL CANINE TEETH. this form. When tanned the skin is converted into a soft porousleather, above an inch in thickness, but it is not so useful norso durable as in its green or raw state. It might do for har-ness and carriage leather. The hide has been successfully usedfor belting, and covering skin boats. A recent American paper states that probably not less thanfifty thousand walrus, with their young, were killed and destroyedlast year (1875) by our arctic whalemen. The arctic walrus neverforsake their young, but will take them in their flippers and holdthem to their breasts, even when their destroyers are putting their 286 PRODUCTS OF THE WALRUS. sharp lances through and through them and the blood is streamingfrom every side, uttering the most heartrending and piteous criesuntil they die. But the worst feature of the business is, that thenatives of the entire Arctic shore are now almost entirely dependentupon the walrus for their food
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