Sinker
2.3 x 4.5 x 1 cm
Stone
Cape Nome, Alaska (Iñupiaq), c. 1880
Collector: E.W. Nelson
Museum ID: NEL.Cl.K.0077
Fishing weights, or sinkers, are traditionally used during hook and line and netting practice. Nets were suspended between wooden floats and sinkers of bone or stone, or sinkers were connected to fishing hooks in order to increase the sinking rate and attract fish. The sinker has variegated white and dark-colored stone, which may be a method for drawing sculpin fish’s attention.