55 
TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS 
Lines. The manufacture of lines seemed to be outstanding in the 
implemental culture of the Satudene, although no information was gained 
that suggested any connected ceremonialism. Fourteen types of lines 
were recorded. 
(1) Single babiche line — made from a wet semi-tanned moose or 
caribou skin. Two women work together; one holds the skin, the other 
cuts with long strokes, gauging the width with the thumb. The lines 
are stretched and dried. This type is widely used, particularly for snow- 
shoe lacing and the binding on implements. 
(2) Edges of tanned skins — these lines (really semi-tanned) were 
used when no great strength was required. 
(3) Braided rope — made of babiche plaited in the form of a flat tape 
of any width or strength required. It was used for headlines of toboggans, 
for sled and sled-wrapper lines, for tying on loads, and almost anywhere 
a rope was required except in the water, as for fish-nets, where skin lines 
soften and stretch. 
(4) Rawhide rope — made from moose skins cut in strips with no treat- 
ment except rough cleaning and chipping. This is the common baling line 
of the fur traders and is little used by the Indians themselves. 
(5) Sinew lines — made from the tenderloin sinew of moose or caribou. 
These lines were plaited round, but not twisted as a rope. They never 
were of less than four strands and had one particular use, that of ice-lines. 
(6) Sinew thread— used for sewing. Strands were torn out of the 
tenderloin sinew of moose or caribou and rolled over the knee. 
(7) Twisted sinew line — made of twisted sinew thread and used for 
bow-strings. 
(8) Willow twine — made of the inner bark of the willow. The outer 
bark was torn off and the inner stripped from the outer while green. This 
was torn into strips of nearly equal width, the ends split for joining, and 
rolled by hand singly and then in pairs over the thigh. Willow twine was 
used particularly for nets. 
(9) Willow line — made in the same way as willow twine but from more 
and thicker strands. It was used for net-backing and trout-hook lines. 
Willow twine and line lose strength out of water. 
(10) Twisted babiche lines — made of several strands of babiche 
twisted and used for bear snares. 
(11) Tanned moose or caribou skins cut into lines — were used for 
pack lines, snow-shoe straps, mitten strings, and where pliability and no 
great strength were needed. 
(12) Spruce-root twines — were used for sewing canoes, and birch- 
bark utensils. 
(13) Whole-willow lines — made of young pliable willows and used for 
tying rafts and baling fish or meat. 
(14) Trout fish-skin babiche — made and used only because of a short- 
age of true babiche. 
