Subject: [baidarka] Re[2]: Superiority of Native paddles
From: vdoucett@uism.bu.edu
Date: Thu Jun 21 2001 - 10:02:07 EDT
It might be worth keeping in mind native paddle makers might have had other
reasons for developing the paddle shape they did. The paddles they used and the
boats they paddled were tools that developed to maximize the efficient
harvesting of sea mammals. Though I can't cite the sources I am sure that I've
read that paddle shape had as much (perhaps more) to do with reducing noise via
dripping then it does to propulsion. Long lancolate, bone or ivory tiped paddles
are also recorded as being used as weapons, meant to be inserted in a wound to
facilitate the dispatcing of the prey. Also, if you look at paddle forms accross
the arctic you will discover that both low aspect and high aspect were in use in
different areas.
Vernon
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