The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-10-17
NOVEL METHOD oE FISHING.
How Northwestcrn Indians Catch Trout
and Salmon by Diving.

The two Indians were going 10 show
us their method of catching trout and
salmon. The stream runs between
steep mountains, is very rocky and the
current swift. The water was ice
cold, and rs clear as crystal. II was
alive with small trout aud the big holes
were well filled with salmono or salmon
trout. ranging from five to twelve
pounds. How did ache for my split
bamboo. which | had foolisllly left
down IL the valley. These fish. from
the smallest to the largest, would take
the fly OF any kind of bait readily.
Steiger proved this by losing fly
hooks 10 two big fellows, bat he cap
tured nice lot of the smaller ones,
ranging from half pound down. He
stopped when he had enough. but |
verify believe 500 could be easily taken
Ia day by the industrious and un-
scrupulous trout hog. The Indians
we're fishing for themselves, aud OF
course we could not 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
| sportsmanlike, IL was decidedly inter-
esting
They first select suitable hole with
fish enough TO be an object $h this
ease il was about 200 yards long. thirty
/ feet wide, and varying In depth to ten
| feet At the bottom lazily swimming
around were number of big fish.
/ From a sack Johnny produced 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 of the pole, but are
held by buekskin strips. Now we are
ready for business. Rocks are thrown
into the water and the startled fish dart
about, ard in Il moment the floats of a
net are jerked violently under the
water The fish writhes and twists.
tangling himself up hopelesslv, and is
soon taken out by his dusky eaptors.
Sometimes a heavy fish would break
the net and escape. but not often. Af-
ter number had been caught this way.
the frightened fish hid under the rocks
and sknlked. Then the spear came
into play, several being taken. On re-
ceiving the barbs they would struggle
violently. and. being hauled ont 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 small net eighteen inches in di-
ameter. in the mouth of which was
bent a willow pole, making il resem-
BILE the ordinary landing net, he slipped
quietly into the almost freezing cold
water aud disappeared under large
rock. | held my breath in amaze
ment, and after he had been under
| ,slr- Ind ds.l Io
had drowned. But no; away down q
dark mass came slowly out and quickly
rose to surface. With a snort his head
popped up, while in the net under his
arm atwelve-pound fish was struggling.
He erawled out shiveFing. 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
Il out at one dive. catching one fish and
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 a pound. They caught about
400 pounds of fresh fish on this rip
During the height of the fishing sea
son the Indians from the reservation
; visit this stream by tribes, and fol
miles entirely clear the river of fish
They are also quite expert with hook
and line, using yenison for bait. Mr.
Steiger presented one of them with 1
! number of handsome fly hooks. Ht
= BOXED at them in a comical way, theI
took out his knife and deliberately
r trimmed the fly off, saying that ht
{ ''didn't care for any of those new fxin's 5
, venison was good enough for him 70
that. .r-ForeSf aud Stream.