220 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ETH.ANN. 18 



bold them firmly in place. The cross section of these kaiaks is slightly 

 rounded along the keel, with a stronger broken curve along each side 

 to the rail. 



Figure 3, plate LXXIX, shows a kaiak from St Michael. It is 1C 

 feet 8i inches long and 12 inches deep, with 27 inches beam. 



The kaiaks of Xorton sound are made lighter and narrower than 

 those from Nunivak island. They are essentially the same in the plan 

 of framework except that the projecting stern extends out even with 

 the spur-like point of the top-piece, which reaches back from the man 

 hole. In the bow this top-piece extends forward to the upturned point 

 of the stem, leaving a broad, slot-like interspace. When these kaiaks 

 are covered, the covering follows the point of the stem and of this cen 

 tral piece so as to leave an open space. The same is done at the stern, 

 so that there is a slot-like opening there. This projecting point at the 

 stern serves as a handle for lifting the kaiak, as does the projecting 

 point of the centerpiece at the bow. The central ridge, produced by 

 the stick fastened along the top of the upturned crosspieces of the 

 deck, is similar to that in the kaiaks from Nunivak island. 



Figure 4, plate LXXIX, represents a kaiak from King island. It is 15 

 feet 3 inches long, 13| inches deep, and has 28i inches beam. These 

 kaiaks are comparatively short and broad, with an upcurved bow very 

 similar in form to that of the Nunivak island type, and with the same 

 kind of circular opening through the bow piece. The stern is quite 

 different, however, as it extends back from the manhole nearly straight 

 for a short distance and then curves regularly down to the level of the 

 keel point. These kaiaks are strongly made; they are used in the 

 stormy waters of the strait, and sometimes are taken even to the Sibe 

 rian coast of the &amp;gt;strait and to St Lawrence island. 



The kaiaks of Nunivak island and of Bering strait are curiously alike 

 in general form, corresponding in a broad bottom and in the strength of 

 their framework. The Xunivak island kaiaks, however, are sometimes 

 twice the size of those used in Bering strait, and at times the bow is 

 very strongly upcurved and the projecting end piece on the top of the 

 stern extends out, or out and down, so that the point reaches halfway 

 to the level of the keel. 



At Kushunuk and Askinuk, as well as along the southern border of 

 the Yukon mouth, the Xunivak island style of kaiak is in use, but to 

 the northward it gives way to the type used in Norton sound. South 

 ward from Nunivak island there is a decrease in the size and height 

 until they reach their minimum in the Aleutian islands. 



The kaiaks in use on the shores of Kotxebue sound are much smaller 

 and slenderer than those found elsewhere along the Alaskan main 

 land, and are built on a somewhat different model. This style of kaiak 

 is found from Kotzebue sound northward to Point Barrow, but at the 

 latter place they are made about one-fourth longer than in Kot/ebue 

 sound, and as their width is but little greater, they are proportion 

 ately slenderer. 



