178 



PREHISTORIC FISHING. 



Nearly of this shape, but more slender in the neck, are the drilled stone 

 and ivory sinkers still made by the western Eskimos. Some of their sinkers 

 are provided with a hole at each end, as an example will show hereafter. 



Fig. 316 (on page 177) . A very good specimen from San Miguel Island, 

 made of greenish-gray, slightly porous stone, apparently of volcanic origin. The 

 perforation, near the blunt end, is bi-conical. This sinker and that represented 

 in Fig. 317 belong to the extensive collection of the late Mr. W. S. Vaux, of 

 Philadelphia, and were kindly loaned to me by his brother, Mr. George Vaux, of 

 that city. 



Fig. 317 (on page 177). A well-polished sinker of coarse-grained syenite. 

 The portion above the bi-conical hole is somewhat damaged by fracture. It 

 formed the less pointed end of the object. From Chester, Randolph County, 

 Illinois.* 



i * 



Fio. 31S. Northwest Coast. (3649). Fio. 319. California. (21893). 



FIGS. 318-320. Stone siukers. 



Fio. 320. Ohio. (51000). 



Fig. 318. A specimen made of gneiss, presenting a rather rougli appear- 

 ance, but nevertheless symmetrical in form. The bulging part is slightly flat- 

 tish, and both ends exhibit a still more compressed shape. The bi-conical per- 

 foration is one inch distant from the upper end, which shows an insignificant 

 depression in the middle. Obtained on the Northwest Coast during Lieutenant 

 Wilkes's exploring expedition. 



Fig. 319. Marked as a cast of a specimen in the collection of the Cali- 



* I have the upper half of a well-made drilled stone sinker, which, significantly enough, was found in tho 

 Kichland Creek, near Belleville, Saint Clair County, Illinois. 



