Walrus

Walrus meat is the most nutritious of any animal species occurring in the North; its abundant blubber forms a totally adequate material for lighting, heating, and cooking, and its hide… represents an excellent dogfood which is uniquely sustaining for long trips. … a medium size walrus is equal in food value to ten caribou and the fact that walrus occur anywhere there is open water makes it the sole and best possible means of provisioning for polar journeys for a self-sustaining expedition such as ours. Only the liver of the walrus is inedible in certain cases; this is always the case with large male animals in particular. One should first examine the liver carefully since it is often traversed with white, slimy veins which are the surest sign that it is inedible. The Inuit, who consider the liver a very desirable item of food, are very familiar with this peculiarity and they assert that the liver causes symptoms of poisoning in the human system because the walrus has been eating seal; this occurs normally only in the case of large walrus. They maintain that the liver of the polar bear is completely inedible for the same reason and they do not even feed it to their dogs.

Place: Depot Island
Date: June, 1880
Source: Klutschak HW. 1881. Overland to Starvation Cove. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

 

Walrus and Murres

A number of looms were killed, which being very good to eat, were served to the officers and the ship’s company. A herd of sea-horses being seen lying on a piece of ice, our boat succeeded in killing one of them. These animals usually lie huddled together, like pigs, one over the other, and are so stupidly tame, as to allow a boat to approach them, within a few yards, without moving. When, at length, they are disturbed, they dash into the water in great confusion.

Place: lat 67 44 long 57 51
Date: July 6, 1819
Source: Parry WE. 1821. Journals of the first second and third voyage for the discovery of the North-West Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, in 1819–20–21–22–23–24–25, in his Majesty’s ships Hecla, Griper and Fury, under the orders of Capt. W. E. Parry, R.N.F.R.S. and commander of the expedition, vol. 1. London: John Murray, Albermarle Street.