Bidarkis 
bound together with sinew. The arrows, made 
of spruce, are thirty-four inches in length, the 
last six or seven inches being of walrus ivory, 
into the end of which a small barbed piece of 
ivory fits loosely ; this barb has attached to it 
a plaited length of sinew seventy-one inches long, 
which at three-fourths of its distance from the 
barb is divided into two and is attached to the 
shaft of the arrow twelve inches from the barbed 
end and ten inches from the notched end. When 
ready for use this plaited sinew is carefully wound 
in a peculiar manner round the shaft of the 
arrow, the barb being inserted in the ivory end. 
The three strips of feathers are tied on. These 
arrows when used are not fired directly at the 
sea-otter, but into the air, so that the barb may 
more easily penetrate the skin. The sea-otters 
are hunted by the Indians in “ bidarkis,” a form 
of canoe, the ribs and woodwork of which are 
made of the ever-handy and useful spruce, 
walrus hide being used as a covering for deck 
and sides. They are constructed to hold two 
or three, and are consequently termed two;or 
three-hole bidarkis. In the case of one of the 
latter the front man does the paddling, the centre 
man also assisting, whilst the third man in the 
stern does the steering, and is the best shot of 
the party. Schooners are employed by white 
men in hunting the sea-otter, and these; boats 
carry five or six bidarkis, with their native crews 
ass 
