274 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [4] 



than probable that this ground will be abandoned. The vessels, usually 

 schooners or brigs, leave their port in late spring, and after killing as 

 many whales during the season of fishing as it is possible to do, go into 

 winter quarters at Marble Island, where they are frozen in, and when the 

 ice goes out make their home passages, arriving at New Bedford about 

 September or October. When the whalemen go into winter quarters 

 the coastal tribes build their igloos upon the ice and shores about the 

 vessels. During the winter the Eskimo are anxious to trade, and 

 many interesting articles of ethnological value, as well as objects of 

 natural histoiy, might be obtained in this manner. The whalemen — 

 that is, the crew — trade merely for such curiosities as have an interest 

 for them, while the vessel obtains furs and skins of land mammals. 



In the season of 1881-'S2, two vessels, the brig "George and Mary" 

 and the schooner lt Helen Bodman," were dispatched to Hudson Bay. 

 The latter was wrecked shortly after her arrival. Her crew returned 

 on the " George and Mary," which arrived October 3, 1882, and from 

 this vessel I obtained quite a number of articles, consisting of bows and 

 arrows, domestic utensils, and several suits of fur clothing, besides boots, 

 shoes, and stockings, some of which are included in the series sent to 

 London. 



The returning vessel brought in part of a cargo of oil and whale-bone, 

 and skins of the polar bear, musk-ox, and foxes. 



DISPOSITION AND ARRANGEMENT OF OBJECTS. 



Owing to the weight and size of some very essential objects employed 

 in this fishery, it was decided not to send them to London, as consider- 

 able risk, delay, and inconvenience might be experienced, both in pack- 

 ing and in transportation ; but they will be permanently installed in the 

 National Museum. Such objects as have been selected are arranged 

 singly and in groups, as follows : (1) Models ; (2) a full sized whaleboat, 

 with apparatus of capture; (3) upright screens, 92 by 95 inches, con- 

 taining harpoons, guns, and lances; (4) a frame-work of wood, contain- 

 ing implements used in manipulating dead whales, blubber, and oil; (5) 

 glass cases, containing articles of decorative art, and " scrimshaw" 

 work peculiar to whalemen; curiosities; a series of blubber-knives; 

 papers carried by outward-bound vessels; whalemen's journals of voy- 

 ages; samples of lines and ropes used in this fishery, and accessories; 

 and (6) a series of photographs. 



1.— MODELS. 



In this group are represented the whaleship, the " camels," the try- 

 works common to all whaling vessels, and the present American whale- 

 boat. 



