272 BULLETIN 127, UXITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 



frighten the fish. To prevent the fish from leaping over the boat, 

 the net is fixed obliqueh- or vertically along the opposite gunwale. 



The bow of the canoe is heavity ballasted with sand or stones, and 

 is thus kept low in the water; this facilitates the capture of fish, 

 which can easily leap over the low gunwale. This plan for decoying 

 fish is widely j)revalent in certain parts of the Oriental countries, 

 especially in Burmah and China. 

 Gift of Surg. Gen. Francis Day. Cat. No. 160,158 U.S.N.M. 



Bengal dugout canoe. 



A very primitive form of dugout canoe used at Patna, in the Ben- 

 gal Presidency, India. It is locally known as "ekta," a term mean- 

 ing one. It is a long, narrow dugout, made from the stem of the 

 semul tree ; nearly square in cross section ; straight, nonflaring sides ; 

 long, flat bottom curving up at ends, Avhich are projecting and square 

 across the top ; ends \erj thick and massive, and canoe generally 

 thick and heavy, the interior being scooped out to conform only 

 in a general way to the shape of the exterior. Small ridge left on 

 bottom at bow and stern to simulate a rib; bamboo spars fastened 

 along gunwale. 



Dimensions of hoat. — Length, 23 feet; width, 2 feet 2 inches; 

 depth inside, 12 inches; height at same point from lower side of 

 beam to top of gunwale, 18 inches; paddle made of teak, 6 feet 5 

 inches in length, the blade being 2 feet 10 inches long and 6 inches 

 wide. 



This type of dugout canoe is extensively used at Patna to operate 

 a large triangular bag net. called " lahotree jal.-' In paddling the 

 boatman stands or sits on the bottom of the canoe at the bow or 

 stern and makes a stroke with his paddle, first on one side and then 

 on the other. 

 Gift of Surg. Gen. Francis Day. Cat. No. 160,321 U.S.N.M. 



East Indian coracle. 



Coracles, locally called " parachal," are used in the rocky torrents 

 of Bowani River, Coimbatore, India. 



This is an open, circular, saucer-shaped coracle, with sloping sides, 

 made by covering a light frame of split rattan with oilcloth; 

 equipped with small, thin piece of wood for hand paddle. 



Dimensions of coracle. — Diameter. 2 feet 10^ inches; depth, 7 

 inches ; paddle, 6^ by 2| inches. 

 Gift of Surg. Gen. Francis Day. Cat. No. 160,357 U.S.N.M. 



Shola swimming float. 



Swimming floats are used by the fishermen on the River Sind, in 

 India, to support them in the water while they drift with the cur- 

 rent and operate a large triangular scoop net called a palla-Tiet. Two 



