The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-22

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Some idea OF the primitive tackle aud
methods OF the early days OF the country
can be gained from tue Indians of the
northwest coast, who are slow Co adopt
modern apparatus, and even now make
little substitution for the tackle of 2OC
years ago except In accepting iron barbs
for the early hooks OF shell or bone The
Indians Of the earlier period had To do
mostly with salt water fish, and depending
largely upon fish tor food were obliged to
develop the piscatorial art and make big
catches, 10 put out huMired set hooks
and gain like number OF fish was mat.
ter OF common occurrence with them. The
| size OF the fish did not bother them, aud
they safely landed immense halibut weigh
ing as much as $50 pounds.
Salmon We're so common in various parts
OF the coast rivers and streams that fish
trap was often used Sometimes they used
spears at narrow passages in the river
OLD FASHIONED TACKLE.
In the Smithsonian Institution report
for 1889 is an account Of the customs and
habits OF the tribes along the coast all the
way 60 Alaska and some statements are
made as to their fisheries While not, OF
| course, showing the evolution of modern
tackle which is the outgrowth of the psca-
torial tendencies OF the seacoast inhabit-
ants OF the Old World, these statements
prove how efficient even bungling tackle
can be made. The Indians did not catch
| fish for pleasure any more than the pygmies
in Africa do now, The Egyptians did, il
the pictures found in the historic ruins are
properly interpreted Indeed, it is thought
that the Egyptians were very successful
anglers, and came pretty near becoming
ay casters.
The Indians of the northwest coast re-
tain their old tackle to this day. The big
hooks obtained from the whites are used
for gaifhooks and as spearheads. The
hooks are traded as other merchandise. A
primitive style of hook used by the Haida
| tribe OF the northwest coast is a straight
piece OF bone the shank a straight piece OF
wood, and the snood or smell piece OF
whalebOne, the smell being attached to the
shank by lashings of bark. In another
style Harrow block of wood is used with
a spike Of bone, she'll or iron, and a snood
OF spruce root or whalebone. In Alaska
large halibut hooks are also used.
! At first these were barbed with bone, but
now they are with iron. They are made In
two pieces, each lashed at the joint with
cedar bark, the shanks made in different
designs, supposed to give good luck to the
fishermen. Some are made from the forked
branches of trees, yew and spruce being
generally used In the wood is set the bone
shell or iron barb. The bait Is lashed to
that arm OF the hook which carries the
barb and placed just under it. These are
very strong, and halibut weighing as much
as fifty pounds are caught on them.
By steaming and bending a tough piece
Of yew branch various shaped hooks are
made. One variety is twisted just as
though the shank of long weakhsh hook
we're bent in an oval shape and brought
back so as to leave little space between the
point Of the barban the long space shank,
and across it a strip of steel is placed upon
which to tie piece Of bait.
THE HOOK DESCRIBED
The hook that is used in catching cod
and founders, constructed with the special
purpose Of preventing fouling, is described
by Judge j. e. Swan as follows;
"They are made of knots Of hemlock
limbs cut out from old decayed logs. These
are split In pieces of suitable size and whit.
tied to tho required shape, and bent by be-
ing steamed into the form which in the
skill hook resembles the longitudinal sec
tion OF goose egg. The lower portion Of
| f,,y a-,lN 80
barb, and wten not in use the two ends Of
the hook are fastened together by piece
of twiuc, which is also used to tie on the
bait. The two parts Of the hook are sepa.
rated by means Of stick or peg, which the
| fish knocks out when he takes the bait
and the two ends of the hook close to
gether and hold him fast. The peg floats
to the surface and indicates to the Indian
that he has caught n fish.
"The sinker is another ingenious contri
vance. 1t Is a large stone weighing from
twelve TO fifteen pounds and n smaller one
to serve as n tripping stone. The line is
wound around these stones many turns
and blight or loop tucked under one OF
the parts in the SAME manner A signal
officer rolls up flag in ball and tucks d
blight Of a ballard under turn which
when pulled out, sets the flag free Sc
when the Indian fisherman thinks from
the number OF floating pegs that he has
enough fish, he pulls out the loop Of his
line, the stones become loosened and fall
out and he hauls in his line relieved Of tn,
| weights.
"The Haldas frequently put on 100 hooks
TO n line, which act like n trawl, and sc
! plentiful are the black cod that often from
| fifty TO seventy-fiye are hauled In Mt one
time. The bait used seems TO be anything
handy, ms the skill Is n greedy feeder ant
| will take either fresh herring, squid or .
strip OF white skin from halibut's belly
The Indian, however, has enemies to con
tend with, one Of the most formidable be
ing the Etoundilsh or nurselish, nc The
sailors call them which will ent off tht
bodies Of long line Of fish, leaving onll
their heads. There is also small sculpit
variety, which will steal the bait Dogllsl
also are at times very troublesome. When
ever the Indian is sure Of the presence o
these pests he goes to another place Il
fish. New York Times
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