Its been awhile since Ive posted much here, but I do lurk quite a bit.
Soooooo, so I dont conflict with those who pay me, Ive had to leave out a bit of our "Spring", but I assure you, the camera here has been well traveled.
The oldest daughter, Tinmiaq discovered that she could criss cross the US cheaply on buses, so she took a 7 week adventure Greyhound style. Apon her return, she fired up he fishing boat ,as Shes a commercial Salmon Choker in Kotzebue Sound in summer, and took her bro, sister and a friend out to the Ice Pack and made Meat, Eskimo style, with Gun, Harpoon and Ulu's........its still a work in progress.
I was inspired to outfit the daughters ride, but she couldnt wait I guess, as I was only 1/2 done with the harpoons hooks and grub box I made for her. I guess this last Fall, while I was in the pokey, the ladies left the Sealing Gear at our Kiwalik camp, so making Harpoons were first on the list. Each boat needs at least two, and if each person bring their own, alot can be done. Seals, Beaver, Turtles, Walrus, etc even fish, can be harpooned.
In making the daughter her own boating gear, she'll leave mine alone
Harpoons are necessary for securing an animal that live and dives in water. The harpoon not only adds injury, but the float/shaft thats attached to the heads line indicates where the animal is under the water, as well as helps keep it afloat after it dies down there.
Hooks with handles are necessary to get ahold of things in teh water so short and long poles are used.
Her new bilge pump, VHF radio and other this and thats we ordered hadnt yet arrived, but theold stuff would do well enough.
So, heres the start of of a scrap Hickory strip, 2X1-1/2, and with plane, rasp, electric drill, I placed a steel rod into a tight fitting hole I drilled in the front of the shaft. I drilled, filed and sawed finger rests from some Caribou antler and tied all on with wrap and pegging 200lb. Blue Tuna leader.
I had copper pipe to wrap the front end in for weight and strengthen/reinforce, as the steel rod takes alot of hit and transfers it to the wood. Just wrapping the woods end with Tuna leader will do if the weight and feel of the wood is right for throwing too.
So I rounded and sanded it, having felt the raw shafts proper "lay" in my hands and mounted the rod and finger rest accordingly. The wood is ever slightly 'bent' about 1 inch tip to tip, and lays a certain way, so I go with it.
The rod is sharpen'd for a stabbing point, as the shaft can be picked up and is used as a spear. 60 lb Beaver waking up in the boat and a firearm wont do ~~LOL!!~~ but a spear does.
The head is made from antler, with a steel triangular blade sharpen'd razor sharp
I used lash and peg with the tuna leader taking alot of tension.
So whilst Im up to this and that, the ladys are running their nets for Whitefish and Pike. Not doing bad, either, though I can t get the pix off the cameras memory, I have only the one from the SD card; After cutting fish for a couple hours each day, they like to pick greens and hunt for Mammoth......and it all pays off quite well, until the fish pass by and the greens get too 'woody'.
Plenty of both are put away for later and the next 'crop/catch is planned and sought.....
Whitefish snacks, very puzzling for the wife and her older sis...
Mammoth tooth found whilst picking greens along the muddy banks where the greens grow along the rivers edge....easy walk, easy boating. The oldest daughter back from her bussing about swears she will never, ever move away from her Arctic home sweet home....but she loved the visit!
Kushiimuk........the green available in gatherable quantity's with 60 gallons put away so far
The stems are seperated from the leaves, the leaves cooked, the sour stems eaten fresh or frozen for later.
After cooking, they are stored in a barrel in a cold storage. Mold on the top become a sort of "lid', is peeled back and the rest underneath is fairly fresh.
And the Harpoons went to sea with the kids.
Soooooo, so I dont conflict with those who pay me, Ive had to leave out a bit of our "Spring", but I assure you, the camera here has been well traveled.
The oldest daughter, Tinmiaq discovered that she could criss cross the US cheaply on buses, so she took a 7 week adventure Greyhound style. Apon her return, she fired up he fishing boat ,as Shes a commercial Salmon Choker in Kotzebue Sound in summer, and took her bro, sister and a friend out to the Ice Pack and made Meat, Eskimo style, with Gun, Harpoon and Ulu's........its still a work in progress.
I was inspired to outfit the daughters ride, but she couldnt wait I guess, as I was only 1/2 done with the harpoons hooks and grub box I made for her. I guess this last Fall, while I was in the pokey, the ladies left the Sealing Gear at our Kiwalik camp, so making Harpoons were first on the list. Each boat needs at least two, and if each person bring their own, alot can be done. Seals, Beaver, Turtles, Walrus, etc even fish, can be harpooned.
In making the daughter her own boating gear, she'll leave mine alone
Harpoons are necessary for securing an animal that live and dives in water. The harpoon not only adds injury, but the float/shaft thats attached to the heads line indicates where the animal is under the water, as well as helps keep it afloat after it dies down there.
Hooks with handles are necessary to get ahold of things in teh water so short and long poles are used.
Her new bilge pump, VHF radio and other this and thats we ordered hadnt yet arrived, but theold stuff would do well enough.
So, heres the start of of a scrap Hickory strip, 2X1-1/2, and with plane, rasp, electric drill, I placed a steel rod into a tight fitting hole I drilled in the front of the shaft. I drilled, filed and sawed finger rests from some Caribou antler and tied all on with wrap and pegging 200lb. Blue Tuna leader.
I had copper pipe to wrap the front end in for weight and strengthen/reinforce, as the steel rod takes alot of hit and transfers it to the wood. Just wrapping the woods end with Tuna leader will do if the weight and feel of the wood is right for throwing too.
So I rounded and sanded it, having felt the raw shafts proper "lay" in my hands and mounted the rod and finger rest accordingly. The wood is ever slightly 'bent' about 1 inch tip to tip, and lays a certain way, so I go with it.
The rod is sharpen'd for a stabbing point, as the shaft can be picked up and is used as a spear. 60 lb Beaver waking up in the boat and a firearm wont do ~~LOL!!~~ but a spear does.
The head is made from antler, with a steel triangular blade sharpen'd razor sharp
I used lash and peg with the tuna leader taking alot of tension.
So whilst Im up to this and that, the ladys are running their nets for Whitefish and Pike. Not doing bad, either, though I can t get the pix off the cameras memory, I have only the one from the SD card; After cutting fish for a couple hours each day, they like to pick greens and hunt for Mammoth......and it all pays off quite well, until the fish pass by and the greens get too 'woody'.
Plenty of both are put away for later and the next 'crop/catch is planned and sought.....
Whitefish snacks, very puzzling for the wife and her older sis...
Mammoth tooth found whilst picking greens along the muddy banks where the greens grow along the rivers edge....easy walk, easy boating. The oldest daughter back from her bussing about swears she will never, ever move away from her Arctic home sweet home....but she loved the visit!
Kushiimuk........the green available in gatherable quantity's with 60 gallons put away so far
The stems are seperated from the leaves, the leaves cooked, the sour stems eaten fresh or frozen for later.
After cooking, they are stored in a barrel in a cold storage. Mold on the top become a sort of "lid', is peeled back and the rest underneath is fairly fresh.
And the Harpoons went to sea with the kids.