142 



PREHISTORIC FISHING. 



We learn from the early accounts of North America that bone-headed har- 

 poons were in use among the Indians inhabiting the Atlantic region. Captain 

 Smith, in treating of the Virginians (1629), speaks of " staues like vnto lauelii. 

 headed with bone." Josselyn (1674) describes the harpoon of the New England 

 Indians as " a kind of dart or staff, to the lower end whereof they fasten a sharp 

 jagged bone;" yet he states at the same time that iron points were superseding 

 those of bone. Roger Williams, in referring to the same Indians (1643), men- 

 tions "an harping Iron or such like Instrument." The Southern Indians 

 employed harpoons made of cane until the middle of the last century, and, 

 perhaps, in more recent times.* 



Considering that bone, on account of its toughness, was an excellent material 

 for pointing fishing-darts, the comparatively small number of old bone heads 

 thus far discovered in the United States would be somewhat surprising, if their 



* i i 



Fio. 221. Maine (Casco Bay). Flo. 222. San Nicolas Island. (20527). Fig. 223. San Nicolas Island. (20527). 



FIGS. 221-223. Bone harpoon-heads. 



* Seo " Extracts: " Captain Smith, Josselyn, Eoger Williams, Brickell, Adair, Bartram, etc. 



