With the freeze-up imminent seal hunting has been a priority around the delta.  Family's need to get their seal or seals before they have to pull their boats out of the river for the winter.  The Yukon is icing up fast and by Halloween it may be solid enough to cross on foot.  Families who live on the opposite side from the school will send their kids across on foot instead of by boat.  Village Police Officers will string a rope across the river at a designated crossing point to act as a hand rail.  This gives some element of safety.