MVKDOTH.I 



NETTING NEEDLES. 



313 



handle of the stick, relieve the fingers of the right hand, which goes on 

 to make the knot in the usual manner. 1 



We collected thirteen needles of different patterns and sizes. Xo. 

 56570 [101], Fig. , $15, has been selected as the type (I ninuvwln,mii kntln.) 

 It is of walrus ivory, 11-9 inches long. The small hole near the tip of 

 one prong is for a lanyard to hang it up by when not in use. This 

 needle could be used only for making a large meshed net, perhaps a 

 seal net. 



We collected seven needles of almost the same pattern as this, varying 

 a little in proportions. The faces are usually more deeply hollowed out 

 and the ends usually sinuate instead of being straight. Three of these 

 are of reindeer antler and the rest of ivory. The longest is 9-9 inches 

 long and the shortest 4J. This needle (No. 56574 [24], from Utkiavwlfi) 

 is rather broad in proportion, being nearly 1 inch wide. It is of walrus 

 ivory. Xo. 89433 [942] is better suited for netting a small mesh, being 

 only 0-7 inch broad at the widest part. It is made of reindeer antler and 



FIG. 317. Netting needles. 



is 7-3 inches long. These needles sometimes have a small hole through 

 one end of the body for fastening the end of the twine, and most have 

 some arrangement for fastening on a lanyard, either a hole as in the type 

 or a groove round the tip of one prong as in Xo. 5G574 [24j. 



Xo. 89427 [1283], from Utkiavwlfi, is a needle of a slightly different 

 pattern, being rather thick and not narrowed at the middle. It is of rein 

 deer antler, 8-7 inches long and 1 wide. Xo. 89430 [1286], Fig. 31 7, from 

 Utkiavwlfi, is a very broad needle, with short body and long prongs, one 

 of which is expanded at the tip and perforated for a lanyard. It is a 

 piece of the outside hard tissue of a reindeer antler, 5-4 inches long and 

 1-2 broad. It is but slightly narrowed at the middle, while Xo. 89428 

 [1381], Fig. 3176, from Utkiavwlu, a somewhat similar broad needle of 

 the same material is deeply notched on each side of the body. This is 

 made from antler of smaller diameter than the preceding, and conse- 



1 We bad no special opportunities for watching the natives at work netting, as but few nets hap 

 pened to be made at the village daring our stay. It was. however, observed that the mesh stick was 

 taken out every time a knot was tied. Since my return, after a careful study of the different mesh 

 sticks in our collection. I have convinced myself by experiment that the above method of using the 

 tool is the only one which will account for the shape of the different parts. 



