[15] FISHEKIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 839 



Mackerel splitting knife— Continued. 



1877. 29,408. Gift of Samuel Elwell, jr. Used to split mack- 

 erel for salting. 



Mackerel splitting knife. 



Steel blade, single edge, round end. Home-made handle, pewter 

 mounted. Length : blade, 3£ inches; handle, 3f inches. Glou- 

 cester, Mass., 1877. 29,402. Gift of Alex. McCurdy, maker. 

 Used to split mackerel for salting. 



Fish splitting knife. (Indian name " Ko-che-tin.") 



Used for splitting various kinds of fish, and for cutting halibut into 

 thin flakes to facilitate drying. Length, 6 inches. Makah In- 

 dians, Neah Bay, W. T., 1883. 72,661. James G. Swan. The 

 Makahs prefer this form of knife to any other for flaking hali- 

 but, as it is well adapted to the work. The women use it with 

 great dexterity. 



Haddock ripping knife. 



Steel blade, single edge. Whitewood handle. Length : blade, 4| 

 inches; handle, 5 inches. Gloucester, Mass., 1877. 29415. 

 Gift of Alex. McCurdy, maker. For ripping the fish from 

 throat to vent in dressing cod -fish. 



FLITCHING KNIVES. 



Halibut flitching knife. 



Steel blade, straight back, single edge. Pine handle. Length: 

 blade, 9f inches ; handle, 5£ inches. Gloucester, Mass., 1877. 

 32,690. Gift of Adolph Voss, maker. Used on fishing vessels 

 to cut off flitches or strips of halibut for salting and smoking. 



Halibut flitching knife. 



Steel blade, straight back, single edge. Pine handle, pewter 

 mounted. Length : blade, 8J inches ; handle, 5| inches. Glou- 

 cester, Mass., 1877. 29,412. Alex. McCurdy, maker. Used on 

 fishing vessels to cut off flitches or strips of halibut for smok- 

 ing. 



Halibut flitching knife. 



Steel blade, long and slender, single edge. Pine handle, pewter 

 mounted. Length : blade, 13 inches ; handle 6 inches. Glou- 

 cester, Mass., 1877. 29,400. Alex. McCurdy, maker. Used by 

 shores-men to cut off flitches or strips of halibut for smoking 

 and fins for pickling. 



