Halibut Hook

Halibut hook

This large fishhook, lashed together of wood and bone, was designed to catch halibut. Anchored just off the bottom, its bait would attract one of the large flatfish. When the fish tried to spit out the hook, the ivory barb would pierce its cheek. Natives along the coast from Washington to Alaska used similar hooks. This one was collected during a cruise of the US Coast Guard cutter BEAR and is most probably Western Arctic Eskimo. The Coast Guard cutter BEAR was built by Stephen, Alexander & Sons, Ltd., in Goven, Scotland 1874. She was built for polar sailing and whaling, and was commissioned in 1883 for use by the US Navy. She was used in several Arctic rescues, and in 1933 was purchased by Admiral Byrd for use in Arctic expeditions. Byrd renamed her BEAR OF OAKLAND.