[19] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 843 



Knife, steel, and sheath — Continued. 



and initials (E. T.) of owner. Ordinary steel, handle "run in" 

 with lead. Knife, bone handle, checkered; blade worn by 

 sharpening. Length of case 10 inches, of knife 12 inches, of 

 steel 14 inches. New Bedford, Mass., 1882. Gift of L. & W. 

 E. Wing. 56,881. Used by the " skinners " (men whose duty 

 it is to skin or flay seals) in the seal and sea-elephant fishery, 

 at Herd's Island, Patagonia, South Georges, South Shetland, 

 Desolation Island, &c. 



plows for cutting the flesh along the backbone of mack- 

 erel to give them a thicker, fatter appearance. 



Mackerel plow. 



Steel blade; hickory handle. Length, 8 inches. Gloucester, Mass., 

 1882. 54,686. Gift of Capt. George Merchant. This plow 

 was used for many years by Captain Merchant. 



Mackerel plow. 



Ivory blade; hickory handle. Lengtb, 7 inches. Gloucester, 

 Mass., 1882. 54,684. Gift of Capt. Charles Parsons. This 

 plow was used for many years by Captain Parsons. 



Mackerel plow. > 



Pewter blade; ash handle, carved and profusely ornamented; 

 marked J. Blatchford. Length, 8| inches. Centennial collec- 

 tion, 1876. 25,775. Gift of Mrs. Hannah M. Burt. 



Mackerel plow. 



Steel blade ; ash handle, pewter mounted. Length, 7^ inches. 

 Centennial collection, 1876. 25,774. Gift of Edward Davis. 



Mackerel " plow. 



Copper blade; hickory handle, pewter mounted. Length, 6£ 

 inches. Centennial collection, 1876. 25,773. Gift of Edward 

 Davis. 



Mackerel plow. 



Silver blade, made of three-cent coin ; walnut handle, cut in imi- 

 tation of a human leg. Length, 7^ inches. Centennial col- 

 lection, 1876. 25,772. Gift of Sanford Freeman. 



Mackerel plow. 



Steel blade, semicircular edge; cedar handle, pewter mounted. 

 Length, 6| inches. Gloucester, Mass., 1876. 25,771. Gift of 

 Samuel Elwell, jr. 



