INDIAN HUNTERS. 353 



bowman rests the spear in the notch at the head of the canoe until 

 almost within spearing - distance; he then raises it with Ins left hand, 

 grasping- it at the handle (&) with his right, the first two fingers in the 

 notches, which are set in a plane perpendicular to that of the prongs. 

 The longer prong is always uppermost, so that in case it misses its prey 

 the shorter will do its cruel work. 



As soon as a seal is struck the spear detaches itself from the line and 

 spearheads and floats on the water. Then commences a struggle and a 

 scene such as follows the catching of a shark or other large fish. If the 

 seal is not a formidable one it soon tires itself out, and is dragged to the 

 canoe to be clubbed to death. If it be of a larger growth, an old bull, 

 for instance, and shows fight, it is necessary to shoot him before he can 

 be captured. On one occasion an old bull, in his terrible fury, bit a 

 small piece out of the side of the canoe. 



The Indians do not like to resort to the gun unless absolutely neces- 

 sary, as firing frightens other seals which may happen to be in the vic- 

 inity. 



I inclose rough drawings showing canoe, with mast and sail, paddle, 

 thwarts, spear, and line. 



I used the bow and arrow for killing them. Sohkatatin. p. 243. 



During these three years I had frequent conversations with the mas- 

 ters and crews of sealing vessels in relation to open- 

 sea sealing. From these conversations, and also l. G. Sliepard, p. 188. 

 from my own observations, I make the following 



statement in relation to pelagic sealing: The weapons used by seal- 

 hunters are rifles, shotguns, and spears. The Indians use spears, and 

 a canoe contains two Indians, the foremost thus armed. 



When I was a young man I killed fur-seal off Showoosch, p. 243. 

 Yakutat Bay, using a spear altogether. 



In early days I used the spear, but now I use Martin Singay, p. 2G8. 

 the shotgun and rifle exclusively. 



When I was a boy the spear and arrow was used 

 for sealing, but now the shotgun and rifle are jack Sitka, p. 268. 

 used exclusively. 



Spear is mostly used by the Makah Indians. Wm. H, Smith, p. 478. 

 Farther north the shotgun is used. 



Have huuted seal and sea-otter all my life dur- stahkan, p. 244. 

 ing the summer season, using the spear and arrow. 



When I was a young man the spear and arrow „, _,, „ , , , . 



-i i 4. Si 4. xi i 4. l-a M. Thlkahdaynahkce.p. 



were used, but of late years the shotgun and rifle 2 69. 



are used exclusively. 



When I first began to hunt spear and arrow were used exclusively; 

 the shotgun is now used by the Indian hunters 

 for the same purpose in lieu of the sx>ear and Jas. Unatajim, p. 271. 

 arrow. 



23 bs 



