The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-09-18
HOW INDIANS CATCH FISH
pHsonIPTIoN OF THEIR CURIOUS
METHODS AND TACKLE.

Hooks Of Shell. Lines or Bark, Nets
OF Vegetable Fibre, Clubs aud
Spears.
S@,s. @ ....;.s.. - ..av " a ss ~ now tue Iu-
dians in the East, the aborigines who
wandered over the ShawaugunS ani
Catskil.s, caught their fsh. They had
hooks and they had lines. The hooks
were made of bone and even shells,
q 9 I. n 5 ssassy g esgrS;s rc;s,t spen whs, S
poles were used they were tree branches
or saplings. Upon the hooks were
placed bugs or insects. II is true, though,
that mos. Indians used fish traps and net
contrivanoes 10 get the fish this, then
teemed the waters that now An angler
must patiently work in with his arti.
fetal cas-. Of dies, thankful for dozen
fish, happy with double ths, number.
Some idea ot the primitive tackle and
methods Of the early days Of the coun
try can be gained from the Indians OF
the northwest coast, who are slow 20
adopt modern apparatus, and even now
make little substitution for the tackle of
200 years ago except II accepting iron
barhs for the early hooks OF she'll or
bone The Indians of the earlier pe,ioi
had to do mostly with salt water 6sh,
and depending largely upon fish for food
we're Obliged % develop THO pisc atorIal
art and make hig catches. 70 put out
hundred Sc: hooks aud gain like
number Of fish was a matter Of common
occurrence with them The size OF the
=. lsl,-<liS. sst.. hotissr them, snd they saNeiy
landed immense halihut weighing a,
much as 80 pounds
Salmon were So common in various
pnrts of the coast rivers and streams
that Ash trap was often used, Some
times they used spears at narrow pas
wages in the river.
The Indians OF the northwest coast
retain their old tackle - this day. The
big hooks obtained from the whites are
used for gaf hooks and as spear heads
The hooks arc traded as uthe, mnrchan
disc. A primitive style of hook used
by the Haida tribe OF the northwest is a
straight piece OF bone, the shank
straight piece 0f wood, and the snood or
smell straight piece NJ whslebonc, the
smell being attached to the shank by
lashings OF bark In another style a
narrow block of wood is used With a
spike OF bone, shell, or iron, and snuod
nf spruce root or whalebone. In Alaska
large halibut hooks are also used At
first these were barbed with bone, but
nov they are with iron. They are made
In two pieces, each Iashsd at the Joint
With cedar bark, the shanks made in
aiscrent designs, supposed to give gool
luck tn the fishermen. Some are made
kr,n 80
and spruce being generally used In the
wood is set the bone, she'll or iron barb.
The bait is lashed TO the arm Of .he hook
which carries the barb, aud placed jus,
under it. These are very strong, and
haibut weighing as much ms fifty pounds
VIC caught on them.
Ry steamine and bending tough
T'c," Of a yew branch, various shaped
hooks are made. One variety 10 twisted
Iast as though the shank Of a lon" weak
fish hook were bent in an oval shane and
brought back so rs to leave a little be
rpa.u sauun, rn" i.ci oes "a sLifr'Oi sI.e,
s placed upon which 20 tie n piece ci
bait.
The hook that is used in catching col
ard founders, constructed with the spe.
cial purpose OF preventing foullng, is
described bv Judge J. q. Swan as fol.
lows
"lhey are made OF knot. Of hemloct
,,?aSs, c9. o., from old decaved logs
@ess a:e .pl: - pieces OF suitable >!,.
80 Whitfield - ,h4 .ea.!rei share acl
re-: by being s-esn>ci 100 ne fe..,
49, = 80 s. e-:< -@<4r - -
~ :25--L s::'.c- :, , ->,s< =. To-