372 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [102] 



Harpoon and laniard — Continued. 



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

 the attack, it is not unusual for from thirty to forty of these 

 floats to be made fast to one whale, which, of course, cannot 

 sink, and is easily dispatched by the spears and lances. The 

 Indians did not acquire the art of whaling from white men j it 

 has been handed down through countless generations. The 

 same kind of apparatus has also been in use for many years. 



Harpoon-Poles. 

 Harpoon -pole. 



A heavy, unwieldy pole made of yew (Taxus brevifolia), scarfed in 

 three places, and served with strips of wild-cherry bark. One 

 end tapers to a point for the reception of harpoon-socket. 

 Used by natives in thrusting the harpoon into the whale 

 to make fast the seal-skin buoys. Length, 15 feet. Makah 

 Indians, Cape Flattery, 1883. 26825. James G. Swan. An 

 implement for which the Makah whaler has a special regard. 

 It is seldom used without being broken ; it is then repaired, 

 and acquires additional value. I saw one with six places where 

 it had been repaired, and the owner would not part with it for 

 any price. It was difficult to get the one now sent, although 

 they were perfectly willing to make me new ones, but had no 

 yew. Some of these harpoon staffs which have been in the same 

 family for many generations could not be purchased, from a 

 superstition that it would be unlucky. 



IMPEDING THE PROGRESS OF THE WHALE. 



Floats. 



Seal-skin buoy. 



Skin of the hair-seal used by natives in the capture of the whale. 

 Indian name, "Do-ko-kuptl." New. Length, 36 inches. Ma- 

 kah Indians, Cape Flattery, 1883. 72629. James G. Swan. 



Seal-skin buoy. 



Skin of hair-seal, small stationary wooden toggle at either end for 

 holding eye-splice of harpoon-line. Small laniards made of 

 fibers of spruce roots, for making fast to other buoys. Indian 

 name, "Do-ko-kuptl." Length, 38 inches. Makah Indians, 

 Cape Flattery, 1883. 72630. James G. Swan. Inflated and 

 attached to the harpoon, showing the manner in which the 

 apparatus is used during the capture. A number of buoys 

 being made fast to the whale prevents its progressive motions, 

 thus affording the natives an opportunity to kill it with the 

 lance (72674). 



