[103] fisheries of the united states. 373 



Seal-skin buoy. 



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

 dian name, "Do-ko-kuptl." Old. Length, 34 inches. Makah 

 Indians, Cape Flattery, 18 — . James G. Swan. 



KILLING THE WHALE. 



Lance-Heads. 



Lance-head. 



New. Indian name, "Kathlat-te-uk." Head, steel; socket, wood, 

 served with bark strips. Covered with a coating of spruce 

 gum. Length, 7 inches. Makah Indians, Cape Flattery, 1883. 

 72639. James G. Swan. Used with a long pole (72674), and 

 when thrust into a whale the lance becomes detached, and is 

 recovered when the whale is cut up. A lance-head that has 

 been successfully used acquires additional value, and for some 

 of them the Indians ask a fabulous price. 



Lance-head. 



An old lance-head formerly the property of Haiks, at one time a 

 chief of the Neah Bay. He made it many years ago from a 

 piece of a musket-barrel. It was highly prized by the rela- 

 tives. An ingenious and simple device. Piece of gun-barrel 

 hammered into the shape of a lanceolate blade, the rear por- 

 tion of barrel serving as a socket. Indian name " Kathlat-te-uk." 

 Length, 7 inches. Makah Indians, Cape Flattery, 1882. 72640. 

 James G. Swan. Attached to lance-pole and used in killing 

 whales. Thrust into the most vulnerable parts of the whale; 

 the pole is withdrawn, and the head regained when the whale 

 is cut up. Lances that have been used are 'greatly enhanced 

 in value. 



Lance-Poles. 

 Lance-pole. 



Long, heavy, and unwieldy pole, with separate pieces serving as 

 shanks seized to either end. Lance-head attached. The form 

 of this staff, with its long, tapered point, is to enable the Indian 

 to thrust it as deeply as possible into the most vulnerable parts 

 of the whale. After a sufficient number of skin-buoys have 

 been fastened to the whale to prevent it from remaining under 

 water, and when it is nearly exhausted from the harpoons which 

 have been thrust into it, an Indian places himself in the bow 

 of the canoe with his face towards the stern ; the canoe is 

 then paddled alongside the whale, and, standing up with one 

 foot on the thwart and the other on the gunwale of the canbe, 

 the Indian raises the staff high above his head and thrusts the 

 lance as deep into the whale as he can, using his utmost force. 

 The heart is the place aimed for, and, if successful, the lance- 



