Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-08-04
NOW INDIANS FISH.


NOW INDIANS FISH,
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ths Red Mes Of the Northwest
The two Indians wore going to show
~ their method Of catching trout and
salmon. The stream runs between
steep mountains. is very rocky and the
current quite swift The water was
icy-cold and clear as crystal It was
alive with small trout aud the big holes
were we'll filled with salmon. or sai-
mon-trout ranging from five to twelve
pounds. How did ache for my split
bamboo. which had foolishly left
down In the valley. These fish. from
the smallest 10 the largest. would take
the fly. or any kind Of bait readily.
Steiger proved this by losing Ay hooks
to two of the big fellows. but he cap
tnred nice lot Of the smaller ones,
ranging from half a pound down. He
stopped when he had enough. but l
verify believe five hundred could easily
be taken in day by the industrious
and INSCRIPTIONS trout-hog. The In
dams were fishing for themselves and
of course we could not prevent them
from using their regular methods OF
taking all the fish in their power.
which they salt and dry for future use.
While NO. sportsmanlike. it was de-
cidedly interesting.
: They first select a suitable hole with
fish enough to be an object. In this
case it was about two hundred yards
long. thirty feet wide and varying In
depth to ten feet. At the bottom lazily
swimming around were q number Of
big fish. From q sack Johnnie pro-
duced two light gill nets. which were
stretched across the stream about forty
yards apart Then he produced the
tips OF spear. which were bound to a
strong willow pole These tips when
thrust into fish come off the pole. but
are held by buckskin strips Now we
are ready for business. Rocks are
thrown into the water and the startled
fish dart about, and in q moment the
floats Of a net are jerked violently un.
der the water. The fish wirthes and
twists, tangling himself up hoplessly
and is soon taken out by his dusky
captors. Sometimes heavy fish would
break the net and escape. but not
often. After \ number had been
caught this way the frightened fish hid
under the rocks and sulked. Then the
spear came into play. several being
taken. On receiving the barbs they
would struggle violently. and being
hauled out by main strength and awk
wardnsss would make good fight
Most Of tho big fish. had now taker
refuge under large rocks In the deep
est part. and were clear out Of sight
Then one Of the Indians stripped of
and with small net, eighteen niche.
in diameter, in the mouth Of which
was bent a willow pole making it re
semble the ordinary landing net h,
slipped quietly into the almost freez
! ing cold water and disappeared under
large rock. held my breath IL
amazement. and after he had beef
under nearly minute. concluded HI
had drowned. But, no; away down |
dark mass came slowly out, and quick
ly rose to the surface. With a snor
his head popped up. while in the ne
under his arm underground fish wa
struggling. He crawled out shiverin.
and after sun bath was ready TO
another plunge. Along the bank TO
thirty feet was shelving rock under
which several fish had taken refuge
Propelling himself along frog fashion
the Indian cleared 1t out ut one dive
catching one fish and driving out tn
rest.
Thus they kept at work. until. afte
about three hours work. not q fish wa
left In the hole that would weigh q
much as a pound. They caught abou
four hundred pounds of these fish o
this trip During the height of tn
fishing season the Indians from tn
reservation visit this stream by tribes
and for miles entirely clear the rive
of fish. They are also quite expel
with hook and line. using venison fo
bait. Mr.. Steiger presented one {
them with a number Of handsome q
hooka He looked at them In comic,
way. then took out his knife and d,
liberately trimmed the fly of clear
saying that he didn't care for any I
those new tangled fixin's; vcnison Wa
good enough for him for bait w /
Shattuck, in Forest and Stream.