The Forrest City times., 1891-03-20
FISHING IN THE ARCTIC.
Whsn the Fish arc Pulled Out They Tn
 stantly Freeze Solid

Tto0sNo bN 0c AUS Nc
 whsa the Fish arc Pualed Out They fn-
 stsntly Freeze Solid
 Wherever there is level field of this season's iee incloscd by lines of hummocks the fish are sure to be plenty, says Forest and Stream. speak ing of fishing in the Arctics. Such field as this, about half a mile long, practically afforded q living to most Of the people in the village during tho season of 1888, because that year the ice was very unfavorable for sealing and food was very scarce in tho village Tho fishing is carried on mostly by the women and children. though ono or two old men generally go out and one or two Of the younger men. when they can not go sealing and food is wanted ut the house. will join the fsh- ing party.
 Each fisherman Is provided with . long-handlcd ice pick. which he fre- queatly leaves sticking in the snow near the fishing ground. long line made of strips of vhalebone. rceled leugthwise on slendor wooden shuttle about eighteen inches long. and pro- vided with . copper siaker and two pear-shaped "jigs" Of walrus ivory, armed with four barbless hooks of copper, and scoop or dipper made of reindeer antlers, with wooden handle about two feet long. Hardly an Es- quimau. and especially no Esquimau boy, stirs out of tho house in winter without ono of these scoops in his hand. To every party of two or three there will also be a good-sized bag of sealskin, generally made of piece of an old kayak cover. for bringing homo the fish. Arriving at the fishing grounds each proceeds to pick hole through the ice. which is about four feet thick. clearing out the chips with tho scoop. The gigs" nro then let down through the hole md enough line unreeled to keep them just clear of the bottom, where the fish are play ing about The reel is held In the right hand and serves as short rod, while the scoop Is held in the left hand and used to keep the hole clear of the scum of new ice which. of course. is constantly forming. The line is kept h constant motion. jcrked up quickly n short distance and then allowed to drop back. 90 that the little fish that are nosing about the white 'jigs," after the manner oi cod fish. are hooked about the jaw or in the belly.
 As soon as the fisherman foels fish on his hook he catches up blight of the line with his scoop and another below this with his reel. and thus reels up tho line on these two sticks in loose coils until the fish is brought to the surface, when skillfui toss throws him of tho barblcss hook on tho ice, where he gives one convulsivo flap and instantly freezes solid. Tho elastic whalebone line Is thrown of the sticks withoat tangling and paid out through the hole again for anoth- or trial. II hsh arc not found plenty Tt the first hole the fisherman shifts his ground until he 'strikes . school" They arc sometimes SO plenty that they may be caught ns fast as they can be hauled up One woman will bring in upward oi bushel Of little nsh--they are generally about Ave or six inches long from . single days fishing. This fishing lasts until tho middle oi May. when the fec be- gins to soften. A good many are also caught along the shore in November in about foot of water. whom thcrs arc no tide cracks in the Ice. At this sessou the Esquimsu use little rod about two feet long. with . oh ort line and lit,le ivory equid. as which the iish bita.