. The Canadian field-naturalist. 30 The Canadian Field-Naturalist [Vol. XXXIII. well loaded. That there was some appreciation of the assistance afforded by sails is likely, even though it failed to crystallize into a definite form. Catlin, for instance, states that among the Sioux a man would sometimes stand in a canoe facing the pad- dlers and hold a blanket spread out as a sail. The upper corners were held by the hands, while the lower part was tied to the body or to a thwart.* Denys, a French explorer, speaking of the Micmac in 1651, remarks: "They also went with a sail, which was form
. The Canadian field-naturalist. 30 The Canadian Field-Naturalist [Vol. XXXIII. well loaded. That there was some appreciation of the assistance afforded by sails is likely, even though it failed to crystallize into a definite form. Catlin, for instance, states that among the Sioux a man would sometimes stand in a canoe facing the pad- dlers and hold a blanket spread out as a sail. The upper corners were held by the hands, while the lower part was tied to the body or to a thwart.* Denys, a French explorer, speaking of the Micmac in 1651, remarks: "They also went with a sail, which was formerly of bark, but oftener of a well- dressed skin of a young moose. Had they a favor- able wind they went as swiftly as the throw of a stone. One canoe carried as many as eight or ten persons.'"' Skinner informs us, with regard to the Eastern Cree, that the "Canoes average twelve or fifteen feet in length, but those used by the Labrador of Athabascans living on Portland Inlet, , used sails of Marmot-skin. These items, from various regions, suggest that the idea of sailing may have existed in an incipient form here and there, though none of them is per- haps perfectly free from a suspicion of European influence. Brinton, the well-known anthropologist, states quite positively that no sails were used by the Dene, or various Athabascan tribes which occupy an immense region extending throughout northwestern Canada. In this he is supported by Morice, a missionary who spent many years with the Dene.^^ PADDLES. Paddles differ little in pattern throughout the greater part of the area in which we have followed canoe navigation, until we reach the extreme west, or the Eskimo country at the SAULTEAUX CANOE-MAKl i\<;: i'laciiig upper barks in position and trimming. voyageurs are often twice that size and sometimes more. They are capable of bearing enormous weights, and many will hold twenty or more men. The paddles used are short and rather clumsy. They have no swel
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