Waterproof clothing made from intestines was worn when travelling and hunting in boats, and for protection from rain. Coats made of this material used by kayakers typically had ties along the hem so that they could be secured around the cockpit to prevent water from entering. Oral histories also tell of people wearing gut skin clothing while standing in water butchering large whales that had been hunted and brought to shore. Highly decorated garments made from intestines were also worn for ceremonial purposes. Sea mammal intestines undergo complex processing before they are sewn into garments, including several washings, peeling inside and out, and scraping with a blunt scraper.