964 FISHEEIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [140] 



HARPOON-FLOATS OF INFLATED SEAL-SKIN. 



Seal-skin buoy. 



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

 dian name "Do-ko-kuptl." Old; not inflated. Length, 34 

 inches. Makah Indians, Cape Flattery, Washington Territory. 

 72,751. 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 lanyards made of 

 fibers of spruce roots for "making fast" to other buoys. In- 

 dian name " Do-ko-kuptl." Length, 38 iuches. Makah Indi- 

 ans, Cape Flattery, Washington Territory, 1883. 72,630. 

 James G. Swan. 



"This form of buoy 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." — " Indians of Cape Flattery." 



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 a 

 lance. 72,674. 



Seal-skin buoy. 



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

 Indian name " Do-ko-kuptl." New; not inflated. Length, 36 

 inches. Makah Indians, Cape Flattery, Washington Territory, 

 1883. 72,629. James G. Swan. 



Seal- skin buoy. 



. Skin of a small seal turned inside out ; the apertures of head and 

 feet are tied up or hermetically fastened by means of small 

 bone studs, with the exception of one of the forelegs, which is 

 used for inflation, the hole being stopped by a wooden plug. 

 A grommet, through which the buoy -line is rove, is seized to 

 the neck. Size, 26 by 15 inches. Bristol Bay, Alaska, 1882. 

 72,400. Collected by Charles L. McKay. 



Seal-skin buoy. 



Skin of a small seal turned inside out; the apertures of head and 

 feet are tied up or hermetically fastened by means of small 

 bone studs, with the exception of one of the forelegs, which is 

 used for inflation, the hole being stopped by a wooden plug. 

 A grommet, through which the buoy-line is rove, is seized to 

 the neck. Size, 24 by 15 inches. Bristol Bay, Alaska, 1882. 

 72,399. Collected by Charles L. McKay. 



