Hunting by Boat diptych, from the Alaska State Library Archives. Both these groups are in southern Alaska and apparently homeward bound, the men on the left are in Cosmos Cove on Baranof Island and the ones on the right are in Rocky Pass on Kupreanof Island. They have had varying levels of success.

The hard-luck fellows on Baranof are in a much nicer boat, though. I am pretty sure that was built by John Davis in Metlakatla, just on the other side of the island. Davis Boat Works made expedition boats by the hundreds, very nicely built carvel-planked asymmetric double-enders. Lots of cool little details, like naturally grown crooks for seat knees and breasthooks and finely carved rowlock blocks. If you find this inspiring, you can row a reproduction Davis Boat at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, and if you’re really lucky you can even go see a beautiful original in storage. Rifles not provided.