Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-21
NOVEL METHOD OF FISHING.
How Northwestern indians Catch Trout
and Salmon by Diving.

The two Indians were going to show
rs their method of catching trout and
salmon. The stream runs between
steep mountains, IS very rocky aGd the
current swift. The water was ;,e
cold, and as clear rs crystal. 1t WAS
alive with small trout and the bic ho,cS
were well filled with salmon or saimaR-
trout, ranging from five TO twelve
pounds. How l did ache for ny spi
bamboo, which | had foolishiy Jeff
down in the valley. These fish. from
the smallest to the largest. would take
the fly or any kind of bait readily
Steiger proved this by losing fiv
hooks to two big fellows, but lie cap
tured a nice lot of the smaller ones.
ranging from half pound down lie
stopped when he had enough. but
verify believe 500 could be eas;iv tu.,..s!
in day by the Industrious and an
scrupulous trout Iog. The Indians
were fishing for themselves. and OF
course we could nos prevent them from
using their regular methods Of taking
all the fish in their power. which they
salt and fry for future use. While not
sportsmaniike, it was decidedly inter
esting.
They first select a suitable hole with
fish enough to be an object. In this
ease it was about 300 rards long. thirty
feet wide, and varying in depth to ten
feet. 1t the bottom lazily swimming
around were Il number of bic fish.
From sack Johnny produced two
light Gill nets, which were stretched
across the stream about forty Yards
apart. Then he produced the tips OF Il
spear which were bound to a stronw
willow pole. These tips. when thrust
into n fish, come off the pole, but are
held BY bucksl1in strips. Now we are
ready for business. Rocks are thrown
into the water and the startled fish dart
about, and in a moment the floats of Il
net are ierked violently under the
water. The fish writhes and twists,
taugling himself up hopelessly, and is
soon taken out by his dusky captors.
Sometimes heavy fish would break
the net and escape, but not often. At
ter a number had been caught this way,
the frightened fish hid under the rocks
and skulked. Then the spear came
into play, several being taken. On re-
ceiving the barbs they would struggle
violently, and, being hauled out by
main strength and awkwardness, would
make a good fight.
Most of the BIG fish had now taken
refuge under large rocks in the deepest
part; and were clear out of sight. Then
one of the Indians stripped off, and
with Il small net eighteen inches in di-
ameter. in the mouth OF which was
bent a willow pole, making it resem-
bic the ordinary landing net, he slipped
quietly into the almost freezing cold
water and disappeared under a LARGE
rock. | held my breath in amaze
ment. and after he had been under
meath nearly minute | concluded he
had drowned. But no; away down a
dark mass came slowly out and quickly
rose to surface. With a snort his head
popped up, while in the net under his
arm a tWeiye-pOundfi fish was struggling.
He crawled out shiyering, and after a
sun bath was ready for another plunge.
Along the bank for thirty feet was a
shelving rock under which several fish
had taken refuge. Propelling himself
along frog fashion, the Indian cleared
it cIt at one dive, catching one fish ard
driving out the rest.
Thus they kept at work, until, after
about three hours work, not fish was
left in the hole that would weigh as
much as pound. They caught about
AGO pounds of fresh fish on this trip.
During the height of the fishing sea-
son the Indians from the reservation
visit this stream by tribes, and for
miles entirely clear the river of fish.
They are also quite expert with hook
ana line. using venison for bait. Mr..
Steiger presented one of them with "a
lumber of handsome fly hooks. he
oolled at them in comical way, then
look out his knife and deliberately
trimmed the fly off, saying that he
"didn,t care forany of those new fiXin's;
renison was good enough for him for
hat. FOREST and Stream.