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2.4.3.wavThe Aleuts hunted smaller sea mammals with barbed darts thrown from an atlatl. An atlatl is a stick with a handle on one end and a mechanism to hold the end of a dart or light spear at the other. By using an atlatl while throwing, a hunter creates an extended lever arm to propel a projectile much faster and further.
For larger sea mammals, the Aleut would throw harpoons from an atlatl. The tip of the harpoon would have a line made of animal skins attached to it, which hunters could use to pull the struck animal near their boats, where it was clubbed or speared.
Contemporary painting of Aleut hunter with atlatl and sea otter dart. Also note bentwood hunting hat, sea lion intestine parka, and seal skin spray skirt.
Aleuts usually hunted sea otters in groups. After an otter was spotted, the hunters formed a circle around the site, where the animal dove under the water. When the animal surfaced for air, the hunters threw their darts. The dart closest to the head determined the owner.
Sea otter hunt, drawing circa 1870. Notice circle of baidarkas awaiting sea otter to surface
For whales, which Aleuts from only a few villages hunted, the Aleut hunter smeared the harpoon with aconite poison from monkshood root. The poison took several days to kill the whale. Once dead, the whale was towed to a nearby beach. Some dead whales drifted ashore on other islands. Marks on the harpoon point identified the hunter.
Drawing of Aleuts hunting humpback whales off Akootan Island, circa 1875
The Aleuts hunted birds with bows and arrows or barbed darts thrown from an atlatl. They also caught birds in snare nets placed between poles at well-known flight paths over narrow strips of land.
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