: Well, I went to that link Matthias supplied in the OP, and learned
: that these reed boats were used by native Californians. On
: closer examination this morning, it says used to cross lakes,
: rivers, marshes, bays. I don't reckon they'd have been useful in
: the open Pacific, but the stuff on that web page is the extent
: of what I know about these. Being that they were used in
: California, and that the painting by Louis Choris, on a casual
: observation last night, appeared to me to be possibly offshore,
: I naturally remembered Duane Strosaker's encounter with the
: Great White shark, and thought that those sharp paddles might be
: useful for discouraging interested predators. Possibly also for
: securing dinner. I don't know, it was just a connection. It was
: late last night, I'd been working, and only had one beer before
: making random posts on the internet.

LOL...I drink only after posting :)

Bill H.