MURDOCH. ] HARPOON CROTCHES. 341 
from Utkiavwin) is made of reindeer antler, a substance much more easily 
worked than the ivory, as the soft interior tissue exposed by cutting the 
upper side flat is readily carved out. As with the walrus tusk, the 
natural curve of the material gives the proper inclination to the handle. 
It is 18-3 inches long. 
When the umiak is fitted out for whaling a stout U-shaped crotch of 
ivory or bone, about 7 inches long and 5 wide, is lashed between the 
gunwales where they meet at the bow. In this the heavy harpoon 
rests when they are approaching a whale. It is only used when 
whaling. The Museum collection contains specimens of this sort from 
as far south as the Diomede Islands. 
We brought home five specimens of these ki/nne, of which No, 56510 
[117| Fig. 347 has been selected as 
the type. This is made of two bilat- 
erally symmetrical pieces of white wal- 
rus ivory, each piece consisting of one 
arm of the crotch and half the shank. 
Its total length is 7-8 inches. The two 
pieces are held together by a stout 
wooden tree-nail, and above this a 
lashing of sinew-braid, lodged in two 
deep vertical channels one on each 
side of the shank just below the arms, 
and wedged above and below on both 
sides with slips of wood. A hole is 
drilled through each side of the butt 
close to the end, and through these a 
lashing is stretched across the reen- 
tering angle of the butt consisting of 
four turns of sinew braid with the end 
closely wrapped round the parts between the holes, and neatly tucked in, 
Just at the bend of each arm is a small round becket hole, running 
obliquely from the back to the outer side. In each of these is a neat 
becket, about # inches long, made of several turns of sinew braid, with 
the end neatly wrapped around them. These beckets serve to receive 
the lashings for attaching the crotch to the gunwales. All the orna- 
mental figures are incised and blackened. 
Three of the remaining four specimens are of walrus-ivory, and of 
essentially the same pattern, differing only in ornamentation and other 
minor details. No, 56511 [116], from Utkiavwin, is almost exactly like 
the type and of very nearly the same size. Itis fastened together with 
a lashing only, but no treenail, and the beckets have been removed from 
the becket holes. The border is colored with red ocher, and there are 
two whales’ tails instead of one on the shank. The other two have the 
tips of the arms carved into the shape of whales’ heads. No. 89418 
[1224], Fig. 348, from Utkiaywin, is otherwise of the same shape as 
those already described, but is lashed together with stout seal thong, 
FiG. 347._Ivory crotch for harpoon. 
