284 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



groove for the harpoon or spear-shaft commences opposite the index- 

 finger cavity as a shallow depression, and deepens gradually to its other 

 extremity, where the hook for the spear-shaft is formed by an ivory 

 peg. This form is structurally almost the same as the Anderson River 

 type, only it is much better finished. 



KOTZEBUE SOUND TYPE. 



The Kotzebue Sound type is an elongated truncated pyramid, or obe- 

 lisk, fluted on all sides (Fig. 7). The handle is in the spiral shape so 

 frequent in Eskimo skin-scrapers from Norton Sound and vicinity, and 

 exactly fits the thumb and the last three fingers. Marks 5 and 6 are 

 wanting. The index cavity is a cul de sac, into which the forefinger is to 

 be hooked when the implement is in use. Especial attention is called to 

 this characteristic because it occurs here for the first time and will not 

 be seen again after we pass Cape Vancouver. From Ungava to Point 

 Barrow the index -finger hole is eccentric and the finger passes quite 

 through the implement and to the right of the harpoon or spear-shaft. 

 In the Kotzebue type the-index finger cavity is subjacent to the spear- 

 shaft groove, consequently the forefinger would be wounded or at least 

 in the way by passing through the stick. The spear or harpoon-shaft 

 groove is wide and shallow and passes immediately over the index 

 cavity. The hook is of ivory and stands up above the wood. It needs 

 only to be mentioned that this type, as well as those with eccentric 

 forefinger perforations are used with the naked hand. 



In the quarto volume of Beechey's Voyage, page 324, is mentioned a 

 throwing-stick from Eschscholtz Bay, with a hole for the forefinger and 

 a notch for the thumb, the spear being placed in the groove and em- 

 braced by the middle finger and the thumb. This last assertion is very 

 important. When I first began to examine a large number of the im- 

 plements, I could not explain the cavities for the finger tips until this 

 note suggested that the shaft rides outside of and not under the fingers. 

 To test the matter I had a throwing-stick made to fit my hand, and 

 found that the spear could get no start if clamped close to the throw- 

 ing-stick by all the fingers; but if allowed to rest on the back of the 

 fingers or a part of them, and it is held fast by the thumb and middle 

 finger, it had just that small rise which gave it a start from the pro- 

 pelling instrument. 



In the national collection is a specimen marked Eussiau America, 

 collected by Commodore John Rodgers, resembling in many respects 

 the Kotzebue Sound type. The handle is of the same razor-strop shape, 

 but on the upper side are three deep depressions for the finger-tips. In 

 several of the objects already described provision is made for the tips 

 of the last three fingers by means of a gutter or slight indentations. 

 But in no other examples is there such pronounced separation of the 

 fingers. In very many of the Norton Sound skin-dressers, composed 

 of a stone blade and ivory handle, the fingers are separated in exactly 



