Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-23
SALMON FIsuIMG.

The following is vivid and entertaib-
ing description of the Indian mode of
fishing for salmon, Few would believe,
without such information, that salmon
had become so scarce in quarters where
they used to be abundant: .a.s. ..r-5
fve-nnd-twenty years ago, every stream
tributary to the st. Lawrence, from Nj
ngara to Labrador on the north side, and
10 Gaspe Basin on the south, abOunded
with salmOn. At the present moment,
with the exception of few, as the JAG.
ques- Cartier, there is not one to be found
in any river between the Falls Of Niagara
and Iha atty Of 0.,Aboo.- Tho imInensa
decrease Is seen in tho accounn. r 49,
skilled fishermen ut an interval of forty
or sixty years. Cartwright, in his "Six>
teen Years on the Coast Of Labrador"
gives an account of n months fishing, in
which time he took twelve thousand three
hundred and ninety. six salmon, averag-
ing fifteen pounds each. He expresses il
a. his opinion that his take would have
been thirty-two thousand fish, had not
pFivateer interfered with his sport.
Compare with his ten days. fishing in
the Moicie, the best salmon-river Of the
British possessions. In this time only
7GALleal "GAG bhAGHs no LuOdL skill
ful and exciting way Of taking salmon ia
the Indian method Of spearinS, which is
carried on at night by the light of a
torch. Two Indians take canoe, one 10
paddle and one to spear. The torch is
lit, and the oarsman. relinquishing his
paddle, stands IN the bow Of the canoe,
glancing eagerly from side to side.
Suddenly he pushes his spear in a slant.
ing direction, and quickly draws it back.
lifting salmon into the canoe; a second
rush, and another victim. Now he at
taehes thin line of sinew to the end of
his spear, and twists it round his arm.
Like an arrow no darts his spear,-it is
whlrled away with sudden jerk, and
tremblcs in the stream. Gently but
steadily he draws it towards him with
the line of sinew, and grasping il when
within reach, lifts his quarry into the
canoe. Look over the side Of the little
craft The salmon are coming to the
hShti they gaze for q moment, aud glide
away like spectres into the black waters,
Some ofthem swim round the canoe, and
come back again and again, pausihg but
for moment to speculate on its bright
ness, and the next lie quiVering ut the
bottom Of the canoe.
Imagine this sport so carried ON lat the
loot of a cataract, the tiny canoe dano.
ing and sWaying on the boiling torrent
ns 1t rushes to the rapids below; no
night save the glaring flame of a birch.
Dark torch castng a lurid hue on seeth.
ing water q You sec before you 4 wall
! 9tWater, red, green, and white, turhblino
q ineessantly Mt your feet; On either hand
you gaze on wall of rock rising Sd biCb
% a, 70 % lost III gloom, and apparently !
] anl there r. q toalning torrent rushing
lnto the Oi3ckness OF night, sweeping
past tue eddy in which synur birchen
craft IS lightly dancing to the loud musict
OF u waterfall No sound but its aever~ /
z eeAslng duo can reach yOu-nO near OBJ.
lect meets the eye which does not EeHeotl
3 reg glare, Suddenly the torch falls
ana Is instantly extinguished ID the
seethlng waters; absolute darkness ems
,NSlops y0ui the white foam, the changing
green of the "a Hing water; the red 1efiect.
Cd light Of the broken waves, all becoms
Hnitormly and absolutely black. Moths
ing Whatever is disernibIe to the eve.
Out perhaps another sense tells,Jou oil
swift undulating motion, a rollinS ride
over stormy. waves, with q lesRsHiins
roar. Your eyes gradually recover tbe;s
power Of vision, and You tfndl yourselfl
Z SiS9eE sWtaSang up and down in the sSmel
eSuy or iar,0Way from the cataract mi
'ne nam channel Of the river, secure
against whirlpools and focEs, s. ith the
Indians quietly padding the ca1oe' and
ABOUT g turn again to resume their saw
- 'fat ETtV gTrt. Nv l.