24 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
A small dugout from tlie same region (also in the National Museum) has the same 
characteristic features, but differs in proportions and in having a strong and tolerably 
symmetrical sheer throughout her length, also in being painted uniformly black ; it has 
the following measurements, which represent the minimum for dugout canoes of Alaska : 
Feet. Inches. 
Length, extreme 8 10 
Beam, extreme 1 2 2| 
Depth, amidships 11| 
Height at how - 1 71- 
Height at stern 1 10 
These canoes are most commonly propelled with paddles, with lanceolate-shaped 
blades, and often highly ornamented. Sometimes a small sail is used, and running 
with a free wind they will make good speed, but having no keel they can not, of course, 
make much progress to windward. They set lightly on the water, and move easily, 
and the natives paddle them with considerable rapidity. 
III.— SKIN BOATS. 
10. Geographical distribution . — Over the greater part of the United States and the 
Territories skin boats are little used or entirely unknown. The aborigines of the east 
and west coasts, as well as those living near the inland waters — the lakes and rivers 
that intersect the country in various directions — have generally found at their com- 
mand, and more easily obtainable, other material as well or better adapted to the 
building of boats, while skin suitable for this purpose could not be secured in most 
cases. It is only in the colder regions, where timber or bark is scarce or entirely 
absent, and where the native hunter usually has little difficulty in capturing the seal, 
sea lion, and walrus, that skin boats are extensively or universally employed, these 
animals furnishing the material best adapted to the construction of such craft. Thus, 
while we find that only one type of skin boat — the so-called “bub -boat” made of 
buffalo hide — has been used in the temperate latitudes of the United States, the coast 
natives of western and northern Alaska — “our Arctic province” — depend almost 
entirely upon canoes made from the skins of various marine mammals. 
A large number of skin boats of various patterns are used in the fisheries pursued 
about the Aleutian Islands and elsewhere on the Alaskan coast. These may be 
broadly classified into two types : First, the kaiak, to which the name of bidarka has 
been applied by the Russians, and largely adopted by the natives of the Aleutian 
islands; second the oomiak, or woman’s boat, also known as the baidar or bidarrah. 
The former is used chiefly for fishing, hunting the sea-otter, killing seals, walrus, and 
whales, and is specially constructed for speed and easy management. It is now em- 
ployed to some extent in salmon fishing. The bidarrah is much larger and of a bulkier 
pattern, and generally is employed for transportation and for the use of women and 
children, who are not supposed to be as skillful as the men in the management of a 
boat. Indeed, this big canoe is used for such work as the smaller and lighter bidarka 
is not suitable for. In some parts of Alaska it is employed in whaling. 
11. The kaiak or bidarka of Alaska . — There are several types of kaiaks used in 
Alaska, differing both in size and form, and sometimes in the material of which they 
are constructed. It is not within the province of these notes to enter into an elaborate 
