28 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
which might be likened to the mouth of an animal having’ a curved, sharp-pointed 
snout. Elliott claims that this form of bow is purely conventional with the Aleuts, 
who build their boats that way simply because they have never built them differently. 
Turner, however, says that this style has been adopted because the natives believe 
that it makes the skins stretch better when they are putting them on the frame, and 
also because it offers a convenient hand grasp when pulling the canoe out of the water. 
An additional reason is that it makes the bow more elastic and relieves the shock 
when the bidarka suddenly strikes the shore. 
The Aleutian bidarka is propelled wholly by double-bladed paddles, and the 
lances, harpoons, and other implements are held in place underneath strips of seal or 
walrus hide, which extend from side to side over the deck of the boat. 
The length varies slightly, but the following are about the average dimensions of 
a two-hole bidarka: Length, 17i feet; beam, 2 feet; depth, 15 to 16 inches. 
As previously stated, the top of a bidarka is entirely covered, or decked, except 
the manholes, around which is a skin-covered wooden rim, about 21 or 3 inches high, 
which not only serves the purpose of a coaming to this circular hatch, but permits the 
occupant to secure around it the lower part of his water-proof garment, a sort of 
hooded frock called kamleika, in such manner that no water will get into the kaiak, 
however much may go over her and her crew.* The kamleika is used only in the 
roughest weather, and at other times the natives use a sort of circular apron, the lower 
edge of which is fastened around the rim of the manhole while the upper part is drawn 
tightly about the waist by a gathering-string. 
When the natives engage in cod-fishing a single individual goes in a two-hole 
bidarka. He usually sits in the after manhole, and his fish are thrown into the forward 
opening, until his cargo is obtained. In halibut-fishing two bidarkas are used, placed 
near each other, side by side, the paddles laid across from one to the other, so as to form 
a sort of double boat. This is necessary to prevent the canoes from being capsized by 
the vigorous struggles of this large fish ; it also offers the occupants of one of the 
bidarkas the opportunity to club the fish near it while it is being pulled up by the 
native in the other boat. Usually, in this case, two men go in each canoe, but at 
least two in one, so that the individual not otherwise engaged exerts himself to hold 
the paddles firmly in order to prevent an upset, which otherwise would take place. 
The two-hole bidarka (fig. 2, plate viii) is the one par excellence for hunting the sea 
otter, and probably in no other boat of its size do men take more frightful risks than 
are taken by the Aleutian sea-otter hunter s.t 
* Petroff, in writing of the natives of Kadiak Island, remarks in regard to this garment : 
“The kamleika is the most important article of clothing worn by the Kaniags, as it protects 
them against rain and moisture, and without it it would he impossible to undertake any extended 
voyages in bidarkas. It is made from the entrails of bears, sea-lions, or seals, occasionally also of 
those of the sea-otter. These are dried, cut into long strips, and sewed together into shirts with wide 
sleeves, and a hood which is drawn over the head until only a portion of the face remains bare.” 
tSee description of sea-otter hunting, by H. W. Elliott, in “Our Arctic Province,” page 142. 
Captain Slocum says that experience and necessity have taught the Aleut a very important lesson in 
seamanship. When the native is going out where there is a heavy sea and a strong wind blowing, he 
puts one or more stones in the bow of his canoe to trim it a little by the head. The object is to make 
it wsier and more certain to bring the bidarka suddenly head to a breaking wave, and also to prevent 
the bow from raising so high above the crest of a sharp sea as to make the boat fall off side to the wind, 
in a dangerous position. 
