208 BULLETIN 127, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



hole in center, where it is strongly ridged. Manhole set at angle, 

 being much the highest in front; equipped with one double-bladed 

 paddle ; made of sealskins sewn together with sinews when green and 

 stretched over a light frame constructed of driftwood. 



Dimensions of kaiak. — Length, IT feet 6 inches; beam, 10 inches; 

 depth, 7^ inches; paddles, 7 feet 9 inches long; manhole, 17^ by 16^ 

 ii^ches. Cat. Xo. 12i),57?> U.S.X.M. 



Kaiak. 



Type used by Eskimos at Kusilvak. north of the Yukon River. 

 A decked, keelless, skin canoe, made by covering a light wooden 

 frame with sealskin, the only opening being the circular manhole 

 in the center of the deck; round bottom; flaring sides; long, sharp 

 bow curving up from below; sharp, nearly vertical stern; strongly 

 ridged deck, the central deck support extending at each end for a 

 few inches to afford a hand grasp, the forward end meeting the 

 curved-up point of the bow; equipped with the following: One 

 hunting visor {Ich-l-e-ail') , tray containing harpoon line and har- 

 poon (A-chi-ht/,-), two throwing sticks {Xoo-zhach-put) . seal lance 

 (Noo-gwh-or-it) , ice grapple or safety hook (7\jo-irrh-iiI.). jiaddle 

 {Ung-wah-rut)^ sealskin bag float (Ch-oo-wen-id'). 



Dimensions of l-aial-. — Length, 16 feet; beam, 26-i- inches; depth, 

 13 inches; harpoon, 5 feet long. 



The names given iii parentheses are eciuivaients in th(> Eskimo 

 language as furnished by the Alaska Connnercial Co. 



Cat. Xo. i(;(),;w7 r.s.x.M. 



Kaiak. 



Built and used by the Elskimos at St. Michael, in northern 

 Alaska. A sharp-ended, keelless, skin canoe, made of sealskin, sewed 

 together with sinews and stretched over a wooden frame while the 

 skins are green, so that when dry the covering becomes tight and 

 rigid; the sealskin is kept well oiled to exclude the water. Tlie 

 kaiak has a long, shar]) bow. curved up at the end like the front of 

 a sled runner; bottom nearly flat and narrow, tapering to a point 

 at each end; sides strongly flaring; long, sharp stern; nearly ver- 

 tical at end; deck with high straight central ridge. sloi)ing steeply 

 to each side, and terminating at each end in projection for hand 

 grasp, the forward one lapping over the end of the bow and form- 

 ing a sort of hole; large circular manhole near longitudinal center, 

 with elevated rim, and nearly as wide as the kaiak: frame of canoe 

 lashed together with strips of sealskin. 



Dimensions of kaicd'. — Length, 17 feet; beam, 2 feet 4 inches; 

 depth amidships, 14^ inches; diameter of manhole, fore and aft, 

 22i inches, transversely, 24 inches. Cat. Xo. 160,175 TT.S.X.INL 



