Ribs Being Dried and Shaped for Ojibway Canoe. {Canadian Geological Survey photo?) 



of the flap, a little outboard of the ends of the inwales, 

 and about six inches inboard from this lashing 

 another is passed through the side bark and around 

 the gunwale and outwale on each side. These three 

 lashings hold the outwales snug to the ends of the 

 gunwales and against the projecting bark ends in the 

 pinched-in form of projecting outwales. 



The heels of the stem-pieces rest on the bottom 

 bark and the sewing is carried down to where the 

 cutting of the profile makes an end to the seam, the 

 solid part of the heels extending about 6 to 8 inches 

 inboard of this. Next, any sewing required on the 

 bottom is done. When the bark cover has been 

 given a final inspection on the outside and all sewing 

 has been completed, the canoe is lifted from its 

 supports, righted, and set on the bed or on a smooth 

 grassy place. 



All seams are now payed with gum on the inside of 

 the bark while this can still be done without interfer- 

 ence from the sheathing or those parts of the structure 

 remaining to be installed. The Malecites used only 

 spruce gum tempered with animal fat. The gum, 

 heated until it is sufiiciently soft to pour like heavy 

 syrup, is spread with a small wooden paddle or spoon. 



and is then worked into the seam and smoothed by 

 rubbing with the thumb dipped in water to prevent 

 the gum from sticking and burning. It is first worked 

 into the ends, between the bark and each side of the 

 stem-pieces, particularly near the heel below the 

 waterline. When the crevices are filled, a piece of 

 bark (in later times a piece of cloth was used) wide 

 enough to cover the gum alongside is well smeared 

 with warm gum and pressed down along the inside 

 of the stem-pieces. On each seam, at gores, and on 

 side panels a thin narrow strip of bark is smeared 

 with gum and pressed over the seam after the latter 

 had been well payed. The bark is now carefully 

 scrutinized for small splits, holes, or thin spots since 

 these can be easily patched from the inside at this 

 stage of construction. In fitting bark strips and in 

 gumming, great care is taken to obtain a flat surface; 

 the edges of the strips inside are faired to the inside 

 face of the bark by smearing gum along the edges. 

 The canoe is now ready to be sheathed and ribbed 

 out. 



The sheathing for this canoe has been split in 

 advance out of clear white cedar in splints about 5 

 to 9 feet long, 3 to 4% inches wide, and % inch thick. 



50 



