Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1893-09-20
DECOYING FISH.
eKILLFuL INDIANS OF THE NORTH
HAVE QUEER METHODS.

| &ney CuC Hole IN the Ice, Build o Hui
Over the HsIe and Lot Down Decoy
Through tho Ice-F Pooling Innocent crea
lures of the Deep Lakes.
/ "You have heard Of shooting gamo bJ
means of decoy birds often enough nc
doubt" said an old sportman the othe,
day, "but doubt IL you ever heard Of
fishing by means of decoy fish, where
the decoy was not used for bait. I never
saw 1t done myself till visited Geor-
gian bay, part of Lake Huron, in Can.
ada, one winter. There found that the
half breed Indians erected huts on the
frozen bay and fished through holes cut
in the ice by means of queer decoy.
I'm order to facilitate matters, some of
them had little stoves in their huts to
keep them warm while they fished. The
huts had only one opening, a door, and
when tho fisherman had entered and
closed the door no light entered the hut
except what came up through the floor,
reflected through the ice outside and the
water underneath it. This made it DOS
sible for the fisherman to see deep down
into the water and difficult for fish to
see him in his dark hut. The fisherman
has chair or bench to sit upon, food
and drink to keep life in him during his
long watch and a little stove to prevent
chill. Now comes the decoy business.
''The half breed takes out of his kit a
queer looking stick, painted and shaped
RI GcI, H.
though it would hardly be breaking the
second commandment to worship it,, for
it is the likeness of nothing in the heav-
ems above, or on the earth beneath, on in
the water under the earth; but if the fish
think it is the main object is accom-
plished. This wooden counterfeit of a
fish is loaded with lead, SO that it sinks
and lies in the water the right way when
suspended from the middle of the back
by a string attached to short fishing
pole. The Indian let's this decoy down
into the water and by means Of the string
gives it series of short, sharp jerks,
which make it a dart hither and thither
in remarkably lifelike manner, al
though, Of course, it's range is exceeding
ly limited, about a yard in any direction.
''The thing is provided with tin fins
and tail and is weighted with lead most
heavily at the head. The string is at
tached nearer the head than the tail,
upon the back, and the skill with which
these fishermen make the queer thing
shoot about in a triangle under their
feet, through hole in the ice, is truly
lob Ia 4
curing the art myself. I should say
from trying it that it is rather more diff
fcult to learn than fly casting.
Presently few fish, noticing this
decoy darting about as if in active pur-
suit of his food, swim that way to see if
there is not something there for them
also. They may be fresh water herring,
salmon, trout, whitefsh or less valuable
game; but none Of them, big or little, is
refused by the half breed. Fine fish he
sells; the coarse ones he or his dogs or his
children or his squaw eat readily.
Pulling up his decoy, the fisherman
let's down baited hook and tries his
luck On the newcomers, seldom in vain.
These men fish with all sorts of queer
bait. saw one man make splendid |
haul one day, using for bait only a big
white bone button without any hook. |
The fish swallowed it greedily, and he |
would jerk them out of the water before |
they could getit out of their throats. By |
and by a pike or dogfsh, seeing the |
shoal of fish around the pole, darts after
them. They scatter in hurry, and the
fisherman let's down his decoy again to
attract the pike.
''Now all the skill at his command
must be employed to make the decoy
work well, for If it lags in the water
ong enough for the pike to suspect it's
5enuineness he will turn away in dis
gust. If the decoy deceives the willy
pike he dashes at it, and the fisherman
erks it away before the pike can grab it
n his strong jaws. The pike turns to
pursue, and as he halts to turn the fisher
nan drives at him with long forked
pear. IF his aim is accurate, the pike is
ransfxed and is brought bleeding to the
urface in a jiffy.
''These men are skilled hunters and
now many curious habits of the crea-
ures they pursue. They say that musk
ats, for instance, are able to swim long
distances under the ice in this manner:
'aking a long breath, the muskrat dives
rom his pursuer and swilns as far as he
an. When he can go no longer without
fresh breath, he comes up under the :
70, and pressing his nose against it
reathes out all the air in his lungs. |
his forms a big bubble under the ice,
nd the Indians say that the ice has the
over of making that bubble of air fresh
gain, oxygenizes it In fact, and that the
tile fellow then breathes it in again and Q
ives once more. This he can do half a
oxen times, the Indians say, before the
ir he took with him becomes so foul
lat the ice cannot freshen it again.
"Whether this property of the ice is ?
'ue or not I cannot say, but the Indians a
rmly believe it, and know that musk
It's can travel a long way under the ice,
nd I have seen them come up under the
Q, press their noses to it awhile and d
len dive again. Perhaps some scientist ii
light explain the case. New York :
ribune.
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