All 3 paddles are marked Makah, and one is also marked "W.T." (i.e. Washington Territory). These paddles are probably the ones listed on Swan invoice # 4 in accession file, where they are called #95, "3 paddles for the small canoe shipped in October." The canoe referred to as shipped in October is probably Makah canoe E74202, so these paddles may belong to that canoe, or Swan may have acquired them for display with that canoe?

From card: "The paddle is painted with the typical northwest coast conventionalized design. It is a poor specimen and recently made, probably for the tourist trade."See similar paddle E361719, probably the same maker.

Described p. 104 in Brown, James Temple. 1883. The whale fishery and its appliances. Washington: Govt. print. off.: "Whaling Paddle. Made of yew; the common form adopted by the natives in whaling. The paddle has a long, tapering point to enable the canoe to silently approach a whale, as the blade can be thrust deep in the water and the reverse stroke made with comparatively little splashing or noise. Length, 5 feet. Makah Indians, Cape Flattery, Washington Territory. James G. Swan."

From card for E23523-46: "Dec 20, 1972, Bill Holm says that these are definitely Haida."Cultural ID for paddles E23523 - 23546 is somewhat in question. They were catalogued as Clallam, Bill Holm has identified them as Haida, but James Swan in correspondence in the accession file references 24 Bella Bella paddles.

From card for E23523-46: "Dec 20, 1972, Bill Holm says that these are definitely Haida."Cultural ID for paddles E23523 - 23546 is somewhat in question. They were catalogued as Clallam, Bill Holm has identified them as Haida, but James Swan in correspondence in the accession file references 24 Bella Bella paddles.