368 FISHEKIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [98] 



No particular order is observed in the arrangement of these articles, 

 but they are usually placed according to the fancy of the relatives of 

 the deceased. 



Several varieties of the whale are taken at different seasons, some 

 being captured, and others, including the right whale, drift ashore, hav- 

 ing been killed by whalemen, sword-fish, or other agencies. The Cali- 

 fornia gray whale is the kind usually captured by the Makahs, the oth- 

 ers being rarely attacked. Among the various species of whales found 

 off this coast may be mentioned the sperm-whale, which is rarely seen, 

 the right whale, sulphur-bottom, fiuback, blackfish, killer, and as just 

 referred to, the California gray whale- 

 As the method of whaling peculiar to these Indians forms the most 

 important topic in connection with this paper, I quote herewith at 

 length from Mr. Swan. He says : 



"Their method of whaling, being both novel and interesting, will re- 

 quire a minute description — not only the implements used, but the mode 

 of attack and the final disposition of the whale being entirely different 

 from the practice of our owu whalemen. The harpoon consists of a 

 barbed head, to which is attached a rope or lanyard, always of the same 

 length, about 5 fathoms, or 30 feet. This lanyard is made of whale's 

 sinews twisted into a rope about an inch and a half in circumference, 

 and covered with twine wound around it very tightly, called by sailors 

 "■ serving." The rope is exceedingly strong and very pliable. 



" The harpoon-head is a flat piece of iron or copper, usually a saw- 

 blade or a piece of sheet copper, to which a couple of barbs made of 

 elk's or deer's horn are secured, and the whole covered with a coating 

 of spruce gum. The staff is made of yew in two pieces, which are joined 

 in the middle by a very neat scarph, firmly secured by a narrow strip 

 of bark wound around it very tightly. I do not know why these staves 

 or handles are not made of one piece; it may be that the yew does not 

 grow sufficiently straight to afford tl*e required length ; but I have 

 never seen a staff that was not constructed as here described. The 

 length is eighteen feet; thickest in the center, where it is joined together, 

 and tapering thence to both ends. To be used, the staff is inserted into 

 the barbed head and the end of the lanyard made fast to a buoy, which 

 is simply a seal-skin taken from the animal whole, the hair being left 

 inwards. The apertures of the head, feet, and tail are tied up air-tight 

 and the skin inflated like a bladder. 



" When the harpoon is driven into a whale the barb and buoy remain 

 fastened to him, but the staff comes out, and is taken into the canoe 

 The harpoon which is thrown into the head of the whale has but on» 

 buoy attached, but those thrown into the body have as many as can 

 be conveniently tied on ; and, when a number of canoes join in the at 

 tack, it is not unusual for from thirty to forty of these buoys to be inadt 

 fast to the whale, which, of course, cannot sink, and is easily dispatched 

 by their spears and lances, The buoys are fastened together by meanfc 



