[99] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



of a stout line made of spruce roots, first slightly roasted in hot ashes, 

 then split with knives into fine fibers, and finally twisted into ropes, 

 which are very strong and durable. These roi^es are also used for towing 

 the dead whale to the shore. The harpoon-head is called kwe-paptl ; 

 the barbs, tsa-kwat ; the blade, kut-s6-wit ; the lanyard attached to the 

 head, kliiks-ko ; the looj) at the end of the lanyard, kle-tait-lish ; the 

 staff of the harpoon, du-p6i-ak ; the buoy, dopt-ko-kuptl ; and the buoy- 

 rope, tsis-ka-piib. 



"A whaling canoe invariably carries eight men : one in the bow, who is 

 the harpoouer, one in the stern to steer, and six to paddle. The canoe 

 is divided by sticks, which serve as stretchers or thwarts, into six 

 spaces, named as follows: The bow, he-tuk-wad; the space immediately 

 behind, ka-kai-woks; center of canoe, cha-t'-hluk-dos; next space, he- 

 stuk'-stas; stern, kli-cha. This canoe is called j)a-dau-t'-hl. A canoe 

 that carries six persons, or one of medium size, is called bo-kwis'-tat; 

 a smaller size, a-tlis-tat; and very small ones for fishing, te-ka-aii-da. 



"When whales are in sight, and one or more canoes haveinit off in 

 pursuit, it is usual for some one to be on the look-out from a high posi- 

 tion, so that in case a whale is struck a signal can be given and other 

 canoes go to assist. When the whale is dead it is towed ashore to the 

 most convenient spot, if i^ossible to one of the villages, and hauled as 

 high on the beach as it can be floated. As soon as the tide recedes, 

 all hands swarm around the carcass with their knives, and in a very 

 short time the blubber is stripped off in blocks about two feet square. 

 The portion of blubber forming a saddle, taken from between the head 

 and dorsal fin, is esteemed the most choice, and is always the property 

 of the person who first strikes the whale. The other portions are dis- 

 tributed according to rule, each man knowing what he is to receive. 

 The saddle is termed u-butsk. It is placed across a pole supported by 

 two stout posts. At each end of the pole are hung the harpoons and 

 lines with which the whal^was killed. Next to the blubber at each 

 end are the whale's eyes ; eagle's feathers are stuck in a row along the 

 toj), a bunch of feathers at each end, and the whole covered over with 

 spots and patches of down. Underneath the blubber is a trough to 

 catch the oil which drips out. The u-butsk remains in a conspicuous 

 part of the lodge until it is considered ripe enough to eat, when a feast 

 is held, and the whole devoured or carried off by the guests, who are at 

 liberty to carry away what they cannot eat. After the blubber is re- 

 moved into the lodge the black skin is first taken off, and either eaten 

 raw or else boiled. It looks like India rubber ; but though very repul- 

 sive to the eye it is by no means unpalatable, and is usually given to 

 the children, who are very fond of it, and manage to besmear their 

 faces with the grease till they are in a filthy condition. 



"The blubber, after being skinned, is cut into strips and boiled, to 

 get out the oil that can be extracted by that process ; this oil is care- 

 fully skimmed from the pots with clam-shells. The blubber is then 



