RSJ $46 Fishing 8x12
RSJ $46 Fishing 8x12
This painting features men fishing for pollock or salmon from their kayaks on a foggy day. Along the coast of Alaska, hunters used 1- and 20 man, sea mammal skin covered, kayaks for fishing and for hunting seal, otter, and whale. Historically they fished from the beach with nets or from their kayaks with line and hooks. The Aleut fishhook was made form bone and consisted of a barbed hook lashed with sinew to a curved shank. Lines were made of twisted or braided sinew or twisted fiber. The kayaks were extraordinarily light and maneuverable and carried men far into open seas. The men wore gut parkas to stay dry and the kayaks were waterproof. They were known to go straight through giant waves and could quickly right themselves if they capsized. It is written that they reached speeds up to 5-7 knots.