Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-21
Birch Bark Still Used.

p4cb bark canoes are still made, but
t., not a tithe of the numbers that they
were a generation ago. The Dig "hite
b;rcbes are going, and it is a difficult mat
ter to find a tree suitable for the purpose
of canoe making.
famous birch canoe maker in the past
few wears has travelled all over northern
Maine and New Brunswick in search OF
suitable trees for making canoes. Inc ma.
ioritv of birch canoes made today are not
lilo those of the red men. For the sake
of convenience, brass and copper halls anu
single nails are now used ana the canoes
have seats and many fiXings unknown 10
the red man. so,
wears ago was made in way that was
nrobably more like that of the original
red man than any otheL pun Al I t1t,s Is
tion This canoe was built on MOUSE -
Iapd nv old Iige Spencer of Orono: Old
Iire was nearly so years old, but male anu an
hearty and as nmble as man or oo. ne
was an experienced woodsman ana .hei 81 Z
were few tricks III
ho "a ise,s way of making his birch was
certainly that of the aborlgne. lie selecteu
his birch and when winter came ne sot d
e. sheet of winter bark. On Moose lslanu
tbare was a big bed of blue clay: IN ttls
CLAW Lige scooped out a Holu o5 tne 80, ST.
and form Of his canoe. He soaked ms pdi a
~ the nond and then sewed up the ends ana
Ia bis she'll of bark into the mold Ihe
sides of the mold were level and hrm, an9
after bending the ribs OF the canoe ne ia,d
the rails around the edge OF the ihoiu aiiu
fne+aned the ribs and rails with wines
Tba canoe thus mentioned was as Nearly
Nlxe those of the original RED men as -
| It'd he and that old Lige did his work
| well is shown by the fact that the canoe Is
still doing service on PushaW.
number of birch canoes are mace every
year on Indian Island at Oldtown, and one
| Snds an old birch doing service on almost
| every lake and pond in eastern Maine
Birch Trees Scarce.
r,,a scarcity of suitable birch trees and
tho demand of the public for something
ugbter and more serviceable has sounded
fhe death knell of the picturesque bark ca
noe of the red man. The large birch trees
of the kind suitable for canoes are prac-
ticaIly extinct, and consequently the bark
canoes of the Indian cannot be found In
nerfection but the model developed by gen.
erations of red men has been more highly
perfected by the white man ana mas con-
bined with it new material and special
methods of manufacture. The canvas
canoes of today are lighter and more serv-
iceable than the old birches, and they are
made in every form and suited for use in
any waters.
In making a canvas canoe the workman
begins just opposite to the red man in max
ing his birch. In the canoe loft there are
these models the shell of cedar is shaped
and fastened. The material used is all
Maine cedar The ribs are five-sixteenths
of an inch in thickness and are steamed
and bent on to the model, being placed
one and a half inches apart Over these is
laid the shell of cedar sheathing. three-six-
teenths of an inch in thickness, in long
strips running the entire length of the
model, Ribs and sheathing are fastened
with copper nails. which are proof against
rust The stems of oak or ash are bent in
and fastened likewise. The stretching of
the material allows the shell of cedar thus
formed to come off the model with little
effort and when the thwarts, Stats and rails
are fastened in there is cedar shell which
would in itself answer for all the purposes
of a canoe.
This cedar shell, however, is covered with
canvas The shell Is laid on horses between
uprights and the canvas is stretched on by
means of windlass at either end. All
canoes up to eighteen feet in length have
No. duck for covering. while all eighteen
feet in length or over are covered with No.
6 duck. The duck stretched tightly over
the shell Of cedar Is fastened at stem and
stern and rail. The rails are long strips of
spruce 1xH inch. A little steaming allows
them to be easily bent on and fastened. and
except for the finishing the canoe Is COM
Rletas