Harpoon With Lanyard Attached But No Point, With Sheath Item Number: E72634-0 from the National Museum of Natural History
Notes
Described p. 101 in Brown, James Temple. 1883. The whale fishery and its appliances. Washington: Govt. print. off.: "Harpoon Head And Laniard. Head made of piece of sheet-brass; barbs, elk-bone, ornamented, covered with a coating of spruce gum. Laniard, sinews of the whale neatly laid up, and served with twine to keep out water, which is injurious to the fibers. Sheath, bark. Makah Indians, Cape Flattery, 1883. James G. Swan. The harpoons formerly used by these Indians were made of mussel shells; at present of copper sheathing, brass, or old saw-blades. The serving for the laniards was formerly made exclusively from the fibers of the nettle, which are also used now by the old men; and though the young men, in some instances, use cotton twine, yet they prefer the nettle. A harpoon that has been successfully used acquires additional value."
Item History
- Made in Washington, USA
- Collected in Washington, USA
- Received from James G. Swan on February 12, 1883
What
- Name
- Harpoon With Lanyard Attached But No Point, With Sheath
- Identification Number
- E72634-0
- Type of Item
- harpoon
Who
- Culture
- Makah
- Received from
- James G. Swan
Where
- Holding Institution
- National Museum of Natural History
- Made in
- Washington, USA
- Collected in
- Washington, USA
When
- Acquisition Date
- on February 12, 1883
Other
- Accession Number
- 012690