142 



PREHISTORIC FISHING. 



We learn from the early accounts of North America that bone-headed har- 

 poons were in use among the Indians inhabiting the Atlantic region. Captain 

 Smith, in treating of the Virginians (1629), speaks of " staues like vnto lauelins 

 headed with bone." Josselyn (1674) describes the harpoon of the New England 

 Indians as " a kind of dart or staff, to the lower end whereof they fasten a sharp 

 jagged bone;" yet he states at the same time that iron points were superseding 

 those of bone. Roger Williams, in referring to the same Indians (1643), men- 

 tions "an harping Iron or such like Instrument." The Southern Indians 

 employed harpoons made of cane until the middle of the last century, and, 

 perhaps, in more recent times.* 



Considering that bone, on account of its toughness, was an excellent material 

 for pointing tishing-darts, the comparatively small number of old bone heads 

 thus far discovered in the United States would be somewhat surprising, if their 



II 



Fio. 221.— Maine (Caseo Bay). Fig. 222.— San Nicolas Island. (20527). Fig. 223.— San Nicolas Island. (20527). 



Figs. 221-223. — Bone liarpoou-heads. 



* Seo " Extracts: " Captain Smith, Josselyn, Roger Williams, Brickell, Atlair, Bartram, etc. 



