STOXE AGE IN NEW JERSEY. 283 



fact shouW be borne constantly in mind in discussing the probable uses 

 of the various hunting-implements. 



A stone spear, hatchet, lance-head, or arrow-point, may seem to us a 

 most uncouth and almost impracticable weapon ; but the capabilities 

 of the makers and users of these implements very far exceeded ours 5 

 they knew the habits of their game better than we now know those of 

 the same species. Traveling where we could not move, they could 

 silently gain access to points that only study and mechanical contriv- 

 ances enable us to reach. Eemembering this, it is easy to realize how a 

 rude spear could be utilized in transfixing a wary fish, impaling it prob- 

 ably while it was in rapid motion. 



Loskiel says, " Hunting is the principal aiul most necessary employ- 

 ment of the Indians, and next to war the most honorable. For this 

 reason, all Indians, but chieHy the Delawares, are very expert and ex- 

 perienced huntsmen. 



" The boys learn to climb trees when very young, both to catch birds 

 and to exercise their sight, which by this method is rendered so (juick 

 that in hunting they see objects at an amazing distance. In detecting 

 and pursuing game, they almost exceed the best-trained dog in follow- 

 ing its course with certainty. They run so swiftly that if a deer does 

 not fall upon the first shot, they throw off their blanket and seldom fail 

 to overtake him. 



" Their contrivances for decoying and securing game are innumerable. 

 They study this from their infancy, and many remain whole years in 

 the woods in the way of jiractice." 



We can see from this description how entirely familiar were the Indi- 

 ans with the habits of the various animals pursued ; and having all the 

 advantages of agility, fieetness, strength, and keen vision, the rude 

 quality of their hunting-implements was more than compensated for. 



There were two species of fishes formerly very abundant in the Dela- 

 ware River, still to be met Avith, but in rapidly decreasing numbers, viz, 

 the sturgeon and gar, which we doubt not were most eagerly pursued 

 by the Indian. The size of both, and the value of the former especi- 

 ally as food, would naturally render them attractive objects of pursuit; 

 but no such fishing-spears as we have here figured would be available 

 in capturing a full-grown si)ecinjen of either. 



The sturgeon {xVcipeiiHcr) frequently attains a length of eight feet, 

 while some gars {Leindosteus) taken in the Delaware have measured five 

 feet. With such fish to deal with, the very stoutest of the liunUny- 

 spears we have described would alone bo of use ; and even with tbem 

 it would appear a laborious task to finally subdue and land these large 

 and powerful denizens of the water. 



Just as the broad-bladed, stout hunting-spear was frequently, we 

 think, used in capturing the largest of our river-fisli, so it is probable 

 that these long, slender forms of spear-points were occasionally used for 

 the smaller mammals, for wbich they are as available as any stone weapon 



