[87] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 357 



Splicing-fid. 



Bone-fid made from pan of sperm-whale's jaw. Usually called 

 ivory by whalemen. Length, 1LJ inches. New Bedford, Mas- 

 sachusetts, 1882. 57063. Gift of Daniel Kelleher. Scrimshaw 

 work, made at sea by a whaleman. Ordinary fid for splicing 

 rope. 



Gog-wheel. 



A ratchet wheel made of "ivory" {pan of sperm-whale's jaw). Iron 

 shaft. Length, 4£ inches. New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1882. 

 57064. Gift of Daniel Kelleher. Scrimshaw work, made at sea 

 by a whaleman for some mechanical device. 



Saber. 



A common cavalry saber obtained from a whaling vessel. Length, 

 37 inches. New London, Connecticut, 1882. 56886. Gift of 

 Messrs. Lawrence & Co. Used on board ship in the manufact- 

 ure of boarding-knives, etc. 



Macheta-knife. 



Thick, heavy blade, with a wide, curved point. Handlehorn. Length, 

 27f inches. New London, Connecticut, 1882. 56874. Gift of 

 Lawrence & Co. Knives of this character are used in the West 

 Indies for cutting sugar-cane; in Mexico, Central America, 

 and tropical South America as an axe for felling trees, as well 

 as for defensive and offensive weapons. A similar form is also 

 used by rubber-hunters. Imported by whalemen. Used on 

 board whaling vessels in the manufacture of knives, etc. 



War-club. 



Two-edged sword, cocoanut wood (Gocos nucifera), armed on the 

 sides of blade with sharks' teeth (genus allied to Garcharias). 

 Teeth seized with coir. Becket in handle, coir. Length, 28 

 inches. Edgartown, Massachusetts, 1882. 56895. Gift of J. 

 W. Coffin. Obtained in South Pacific and brought home as a 

 " curio " by a whaleman. 



Ear-bone of calf-whale. 



Ear-bone of sperm-whale calf (Physeter macroceplialus), brought 

 home as a curio. Fairhaven, Massachusetts, 1882. 56894. 

 Gift of Girard S. Eobinson. 



Kanaka-line. 



Heart, coir. Surface, plaited vegetable fiber. Edgartown, Massa- 

 chusetts, 1882. 56896. U. S. Fish Commission. Brought 

 home by a whaleman. Said to be used by natives of the Sand- 

 wich Islands as an ornament for the person by affixing shells 

 and small teeth, and in the manufacture of baskets, etc. Called 

 by whalemen " Kanaka-line." 



