Volume 31, 1983 - The Arctic Circle

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I6 THE ARCTIC CIRCULAR vol,.xxxr Nos. L,2 habits of the belugas and were responsible for ensuring that the quota was not exceeded. To this end they met with the hunters at two p.m. on Friday to remind them of the limit of twenty-three whales and to find out what plan the hunters had made for respecting it. The fnuitr or the other hand, were curious to learn what method the biologists had devised to ensure that the quota not be exceeded. What followed was a predictably circular and at times heated discussion during which each side accused the other of having failed in its responsibility to develop a workable system. The Inuit said that they respected the l-aw but felt it was unfair to attempt to resolve such a major issue in a last minute discussion. More reasonable and considerate action would have been a meeting in the hamlet several months before the hunt, dt which both sides could have worked out an acceptable method of meeting the quota. With the hunt less than twelve hours away, it was imperative that a makeshift plan be developed. Foremost in the minds of the hunters was the question of how they would know when the allocated number of whales had been killed, and what penalty would be imposed on a hunter who killed an extra whale. One of the officials doggedly maintained that anyone found exceeding the limit would be punished to the full extent of the law. With no effective method for the handful of biologists and the two RCMP officers to keep watch over the several foggy miles of fiord this was recognized as the bluff that it was. The sides eventually agreed on one hunter's suggestion that the Government staff set off smoke flares when they estimated that twenty-three whales had been killed. One watcher would be stationed on a high cliff with pair of binoculars, and the remainder would patrol from a Zodiac and the RCMP canoe. The biologists also wished to have the measurements of every whale killed, and to take organ samples frorn each. The meeting closed with a word of caution from the biologists on the use of firearms, prtzzling coming as it did from men who were toddlers when the majority of the hunters present were learning to use rifles. The fnuit passed the remainder of the day and the entire night talking, making musict ot playing cards, some playing for bullets, by the bright yellow glow of sibilant coleman lanterns in the tents and boats. At around three the next morning the tentative halflight of dawn reveared once again a misty and tranquil world where the fog-softened lines of land, sky, and sea merged into a
vol,. xxxr Nos. L ,2 THE ARCTIC CIRCULAR I9 gloomy pastel painted in shades of grey. From time to time the deep hissing sighs of surfacing belugas cut the still air, the arc of their smooth white backs highly visible against the gun-metal water. No tirne was lost in taking down the boat cover and stowing the gear, loading the heavy calibre rifles and readying the harpoon and line. In short order we raised anchor, coaxed the unwilling twin outboards into life, and set off toward the head of the fiord. Peteroosie and Silasie, at once relaxed and intently observant, leaned against the deck and scrutinized the water. Within ten minutes Peteroosie had sighted a whale at a distance; a burst of speed brought the boat within shooting range. He and Silasie each fired one shot into the animal's side, whereupon the whale cut short its breath and disappeared beneath the waves. At this point the hunter must attempt to guess where the whale will reappear. Belugas are clever and will often choose a spot behind the boat and far out of range. When the hunter again sights the animal, he makes for it at top speed. If he decides he cannot get close enough before it dives again he fires a round into the air to frighten it down, thereby reducing its breathing time and forcing it to resurface prematurely and not too far away. A wounded whale spends as litt1e time exposed as possible, exhaling underwater and sending great streams of bubbles to the surface. As our whale surfaced Silasie fired hitting the whale, which jerked its tail in pain, and became noticeably weaker and its movements more sluggish. Blood and blubber mixed with the exhaled breath, reddening the water and leaving an oily film on the surface. Eventually, when it could hardly muster the strength to dive, Peteroosie brought our boat alongside and hurled his harpoon into the enraged animal, which flapped about on the end of the line like a huge hooked fish. A final shot to the head dispatched it and the whale lay still on the surface. As this hunt was overcrowded two or three boats would pursue each whale r dnd for nine hours a furious rattling of gunfire echoed and re-echoed down the length of the fiord with the ferocj-ty of a small naval battle. Silasie said it was like a war on whales. At around noon three puffs of white smoke from flares operated by the officials signalled the end of the hunt and the clamour gradually ceased as those pursuing a wounded whale finished off their quarry. ***
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Volume 31, 1983 - The Arctic Circle

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