36 BULLETIN 127, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



years renders the construction of such craft unnecessary; conse- 

 quently they are not built now. 



The marked feature of the dugout canoe of the northwest coast 

 is the easy symmetry of its lines and the fact that it is built on ap- 

 proved scientific principles for easy passage through the water. In 

 this particular it challenges admiration and suggests that the preda- 

 tory habit of the savage has been an important factor in enabling 

 him to produce a boat which is equally well adapted to escape from a 

 stronger foe or to overtake an enemy of which he is in pursuit. At 

 the same time it is preeminently well adapted to the pursuit of 

 marine animals, such, for instance, as the fur seal and the sea lion. 



The canoes of British North America embraced in the collection 

 are chiefly those of the northwest coast and so closely resemble 

 the dugouts of Alaska that it is generally impossible to distinguish 

 them apart. Therefore no extended discussion of them seems neces- 

 sar}'. 



SOUTH AMERICA. 



Under this head is a A'aried, though not extensive, collection of 

 aboriginal types of boats used in various parts of South America, 

 including dugouts, bark canoes, grass balsas, etc. ' 



EUROPE. 



Considering the immense preponderance of the merchant and 

 naval marine of Great Britain and her western colonies the material 

 in the Museum which comes under this head can be considered 

 nothing more than a limited nucleus around which may be gathered 

 a large aggregation of material that necessarily must prove both 

 interesting and instructive. 



The fishing vessels and boats of Germany, of which are several 

 excellent rigged models in the Museum, have peculiar characteristics. 

 They are quite unlike the boats of other countries and afford ma- 

 terial for interesting study. The detailed descriptions obviate the 

 necessity of further discussion here. 



With one exception the illustrations of Dutch craft are confined to 

 engravings or photographs. For centuries Holland has been famous 

 for her vessels and boats which at one time marked the limit of ad- 

 vance in Europe. 



Belgium has only a limited variety of fishing boats, and aside from 

 the larger craft, such as cutters, the rigged model in the museum 

 shows the most important type, and practically the only one of con- 

 sequence employed from that country. 



The fishing boats of Denmark are chiefly, if not wholly, sharp- 

 sterned craft, and mostly of small size. The two models in the 

 museum are those of the most important types. 



