FISHING VESSELS AND BOATS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 
31 
hole and firmly secured in place by strips of whalebone or sinew wound around, over 
and over, as one would sew. 
The kaiak of the Point Barrow region has a round bottom and long pointed ends ; 
it is nearly straight on top, except just forward of the manhole where the deck is 
“crowned” up, forming a sharp ridge that slopes to the level of the forward deck. With 
this single exception the deck is flat. The following are the dimensions of a kaiak 
from Point Barrow (fig. 2, plate x) : 
Feet. Inches. 
Length over all - 18 2 
Beam 1 9£ 
Depth : 
After side of manhole 10£ 
Fore side - 14-f 
Height of manhole rim If 
Longitudinal diameter of manhole 1 10 
Manhole to how 8 5 
Both the single and the double bladed paddle are used on the Point Barrow kaiak, 
according to Murdoch, who says that the Eskimo prefer the single-bladed paddle when 
there is no occasion for speed, and they are “jogging along” at an easy rate ; but if 
greater speed is needed they always employ the double paddle. Both are carried. 
15. The oomiak or bidarrah . — The oomiak (figure 3, plate x), to which the name 
bidarrah (sometimes written bidara, baidar, or baidarra) has been given by the Bussians 
and largely adopted into the vocabulary of the coast and island natives, is a large open 
skin boat, now chiefly used for transportation, although it is sometimes employed to 
capture whales by the Innuits of the north. At Kadiak, according to Petroff, the 
“bidara” ( angiak ) were formerly used chiefly in time of war and for making long jour- 
neys, since they can carry from 30 to 40 people. But at present these boats are nearly 
all in the hands of the traders. Oars are generally used to propel them, and sometimes 
they are rigged with masts and sails.* The largest oomiaks on the Alaskan coast are 
owned and employed for trading purposes, Turner says, and one of these seen by him 
on the Kuskokvim would carry 45 tons. But those used by the natives, and which 
are more particularly the subject of consideration here, vary from 18 to 30 feet in 
length. In regard to the employment of the oomiak in whaling, Scammon writes as 
follows : 
The Esquimaux whaling boat, although to all appearance simple in its construction, will be found, 
after careful investigation, to be admirably adapted to the purpose, as well as for all other uses neces- 
sity demands. It is not only used to accomplish the more important undertakings, but in it they hunt 
the walrus, shoot game, and make their long summer voyages about the coast, up the deep bays and 
long rivers, where they traffic with the interior tribes. When prepared for whaling the boat is cleared 
of all passengers and useless incumbrances, nothing being allowed but the whaling gear. Eight 
picked men make the crew. It is said by Captain Norton, who commanded the ship Citizen, wrecked 
in the Arctic several years ago, that the women engage in the chase. The implements are one or more 
harpoons made of ivory, with a point of slate stone or iron, a boat mast that serves the triple purpose of 
spreading the sail and furnishing the staff for the harpoon and lance, a large knife, and eight paddles. 
The knife lashed to the mast constitutes the lance. 
The boat being in readiness, the chase begins. As soon as the whale is seen and its course ascer- 
tained all get behind it. Not a word is spoken, nor will they take notice of a passing ship or boat 
Alaska, volume 8, Tenth Census, page 141. 
