AND OTHER HUNTING ADVENTURES. 91 



his frail cedar shell into it with a skill and a conscious- 

 ness of mastery that would put to the blush any of 

 the prize winners in our Eastern canoe-club regattas. 

 The canoes are models of nautical architecture. 

 They are cut and carved from the cedar trees which 

 bounteous Nature, in wise provision for the wants of 

 Her children, has caused to grow so plentifully and 

 to such prodigious size in the Sound country. They 

 are of various sizes and lengths, owing to the uses 

 for which they are intended. If for spearing sal- 

 mon or for light traveling, they are cut from a tree 

 twenty to twenty-four inches in diameter, and are 

 not more than twelve to fifteen feet long. If for 

 attending nets and bringing in the catch, they are 

 generally longer, and if for freighting and long-dis- 

 tance traveling, they are of immense size and capable 

 of carrying great burdens. A tree of the size wanted 

 is selected, perfectly sound and free from knots, and 

 a log of the desired length cut off. The log is hol- 

 lowed, carved out to the desired shape, then trimmed 

 and tapered outside until it is a mere shell, scarcely 

 more than an inch thick anywhere. 



It is then filled with water, a fire is built near in 

 which rocks are heated and thrown into the canoe 

 until the water boils. This is continued until the 

 wood is thoroughly cooked and softened, when the 

 water is turned out, the canoe is spread at the 

 centre, braced out to nearly twice its natural width 

 or diameter, and left to dry. This gives it " sheer " 

 and enables it to ride a heavy sea like a lifeboat. 

 Handsomely carved figureheads are attached to 

 some of the large canoes, and the entire craft is 

 painted, striped, and decorated in gay colors. I 



