50 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



[Vol. IV. 



tern, and neither of the two evidences any regard for elegance. And yet 

 they are fair representatives of their class, even of those which are still in 

 use among the modern Carriers. They generally consist of flat halves of 

 oblong pebbles one end of which has been slightly trimmed by chipping 

 with a hard stone. The object of such implements being to soften by 

 repeated pressure the hide which has already been stripped of its hair and 

 adherent blood and fat, these scrapers receive no polish whatever. This 

 is why I rather hesitate in classing among the skin scrapers the 

 instrument represented by fig. i6, which is a "find," and was not, like 

 those above figured, in actual use among the natives when handed to me. 

 It is of a very fine grained black volcanic rock polished at the broadest, 

 end a, and as it is drawn natural size, it is, if any, the smallest skin 

 scraper I have ever seen. 



Most of these tools have received very little artificial treatment in their 

 manufacture. In fact, they are almost invariably made as follows : any 

 flat pebble which is likely to split as desired and thus yield easily suit- 



Fin, li- 



able material for the intended scraper is secured up between two stones 

 on the ground and then split asunder by vigorously throwing a large 

 stone on its upper end. The half which best answers the purpose in 



