The umiak, an open skin-covered boat, was used in the past for transportation and for hunting large Greenland whales. These seaworthy craft were often more than ten meters long, and could carry twenty people, together with their heavy skin tents, baggage, stored food and dogs. As is seen in this rare photograph, the long oars were handled by women. A mast for a single, square sail is located near the centre of the boat.
