The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-02-18
QUEER SALMON FISHING.
aow They Catch Zig Specimens Of the
Flnny Tribe Ia Alaska.


The run of salmon in the rivers Of
Arctic Alaska takes place from the
middle of July until the middle of
August or the first day of September,
and is of greater extent than anyone
can conceive who has not seen it. As a
natural consequence "fsherman's luck"
is very different thing there than in
the fshed-out streams of New England
| first heard of the magnitude of these
runs of salmon while our vessel lay at
harbor on the coast of Alaska, less than
one hundred miles below Bering
straits, says a writer.
1t was the first week in July, and
only stray hnny forerunner was now
and then caught by the natives. These
fish were mostly of three or four pounds
weight and their flesh was almost
white. But they were fish and large
ones, too, in the sight of one who had
only tished in New England streams, so
was seized with desire to go a-fshing,
l was preparing for the trip in the
old regulation style and with the usual
outfit, when the captain of our vessel
suggested that l wait a few days until
the run of fish had fairly begun. Then
we would take our native interpreter,
Ungurula, and have a genuine Eskimo
fishing party This was much more
satisfactory arrangement than any
thing l could plan, for l knew nothing
about the country or the habits of the
fish, as / had never been salmon fishing,
so | gladly dropped all my plans for
this new one.
Each day the weather grew warmer,
and with the increasing warmth came
more and larger and higher colored sal
mon, until about the 18th, when it
seemed as though tlood-gates of num-
berless fish ponds had been opened and
the fish turned loose by millions.
This looks as though we might have
some luck" said the captain as we
watched the myriads of fish passing our
vessel Guess we will have to go fish
ing tomorrow" announced the captain
We told Ungurula of our plan and
asked him to get everything ready to
catch the fish, while the steward was
directed to make ready the most neces-
sary part of the baggage, the lunch
basket
Ungurula was delighted at the pros
pect, and Immediately set to work to
prepare the tackle" which was the
most simple and peculiar outfit for
fishing trip / ever saw. The captain
told me we would let the guide do all
the fishing. AS there was little prepa-
ration necessary on my part, l had
plenty of time to watch Ungurula-
He first got board some five or six
feet long and about eight inches wide.
He cut handle at one end so that the
board GSuld be held easily and firmly
by botn hands. The carpenter was
then called upon and his supply of nails
! inspected. About ten long wire spikes
were picked out-the largest that could
be found-and these were driven
through the board at regular intervals
from the end almost down to the
handle, and their long, sharp poin is
extended at least four inches from the
under side of the board
How many pish?" inquired Ungu-
rula of the captain as they examined
the peculiar tackle together.
, These natives cannot pronounce the
, letter f.
, so, so many" said the captain, as
he opened and closed his fingers three
= times, indicating thirty fishes.
! "All right" said Ungurula; "me
. ready"
! | asked no questions, but waited for
time to explain the mystery of things
This was the season of the midnight
sun, and with continuous daylight we
i could make our start at any time. The
change of the early morning watch was
e the most convenient time, and at four
n o'clock the starboard quarter boat was
t lowered away, and with four strong
i men at the oars our whale boat was
g soon gliding swiftly toward the head OF
4 the port with the long, steady pull of
n sailors on Il whaling vessel 1t was
s several miles up, but under the steady
c stroke of the oars we We're soon on the
c river and ascended it two or three
n miles
}. Ungurula was in charge of the expe-
S dition, and at his word we landed at a
a fork in the river and hauled the boat
e we'll up on the beach. We then walked
r about one hundred feet up the smaller
C stream to spot where the water was
/. quite shallow.
n Such a sight as we saw there is be-
Il yond description. We had seen what
b seemed like millions of fish as we came
@ up the river. But here the water was
fairly alive with them. 1t seemed as
y though the fish would fairly push each
t other out of the water in their struggle
a to go upstream. Literally, the water
e was a struggling mass of salmon of all
S sizes.
e There was nothing poetic or effusive
y about Ungurula. The sight was an
n old story to him, and he was too in.
d tensely practical to have anything in
e mind beyond the capture Of thirty
II good, fat king salmon for the 'cap'n. y
l. He took off his boots, stockings and
l. trousers; then, with the mysterious
5. board in hand, began the fishing. II
It was very evident we were to have de-
It gree of fisherman's luck that would
p make any isherman's heart burst with
d gladness. But the question in mind
e was: How was it to be done?
% Ungurula soon explained it Walk
: ing out into the stream to a depth OF
O. about three feet he raised the board
ID high in the air-the surface with the
Us bristling array of spike points down
st then, with quick, muscular swing,
e. slapping it on the water with all the
IS strength his two arms could command
IT The instant it struck the water he
II jerked it with downward movement
&c in toward the shore, and as he drew il