It has been well known since Marius Barbeaus review of the first edition of Franz Boass Tsimshian Mythology in 1917 that something was seriously amiss with Boass alleged translations of the stories gathered by his chief Tsimshian informant, Henry Tate. But what, exactly, was it that Boas was doing with Tates stories? Ralph Maud answers this question in Transmission Difficulties.