STONE AGE IN NEW JERSEY. 279 



have gathered a great mauy of this particular pattern auoiit the shores 

 of the rivers, near their mouths, where the larger and strictly marine 

 fish are abundantly met with. In such localities, however, as the depths 

 of the water and habits of the fish render spearing, at least note, a some- 

 what slow process, it is probable that the bow was used, the arrows 

 being headed with such spear-points of the kind figured ; or perhaps 

 the number of the fish was formerly so much greater than now that 

 the shallower waters were more frequented, and the fish secured thii eiu 

 by spearing. 



Figure 50 is a style of fish-spear that is very abundant; and having 

 occasionally met with several broken ones together in localities distant 

 from water, the conclusion is they were most likely used occasionally in 

 hunting small mammals. The specimen figured is chipped from a frag- 

 ment of slaty rock ; from great age, much use, or other cause, its extreme 

 point has been lost, while the chipped edges are dulled. Like the pre- 

 ceding illustrations, this specimen has a well-shaped stem, showing 

 thereby that, whatever its i)articular use, it was intended to be securely 

 fastened to a shaft. Where spears were used in capturing large fish, it 

 would, of course, require much strength at the junction of the head and 

 handle, as the struggles of some fishes arc very violent. 



Figure 51 represents a form of fish-spear that approaches very nearly 

 to the arrow-heads, and to a series of broad-based specimens, to be sej)- 

 arately considered, which are by many archaeologists claimed to be stones 

 so shaped for drilling other stones. This form is usually wrought in 

 slate, and is not uncommon. It and other similarly-shaped specimens 

 were gathered on the Pennsylvania shore of the Delaware Eiver, oppo- 

 site Bordentown, N. J. The most conspicuous feature in its being dif- 

 ferent from the preceding jiatterns consists in the i^lain, or unnotched, 

 base. It does not appear how this shape of fish-spear could be very 

 securely fastened to a handle, which, it would be supposed, was the 

 important feature of a spear for such purposes. Certainly, arrow-head 

 making and similar work was no such easy matter, even to adepts, that 

 the well-wrought points could bo risked by insecure fastenings. Had 

 not this pattern been I'ound more frequently in fishing-localities than 

 upon the uplands, associated with other relics, it would not have been 

 classed with fish-spears; but, under the circumstances, we believe it to 

 be properly so classed, although the others figured are far better adapted 

 to fishing. 



Figure 52 represents a variety of lishspear that we previously have 

 called an arrow-head. Of exactly this pattern, we have only seen this 

 one specimen. From the locality where found we learn nothing con- 

 cerning it, a very stony field that for over a century has been under 

 uninterrupted cultivation ; and it really seems incredible that a form so 

 easily destroyed as this should finally have been pricked uji in its present, 

 probably almost perfect, condition, for we doubt if there was a repetition 

 of the symmetrical barbs. Beautifully wrought in dull-green jasper, it 



