The Washington times., 1905-01-15
HOW THE EsKIMos FISH.

When the long and cold winter settles
on the Arctic regions land animals are
chiefly conspicuous by their absence,
and were il not for the fish, which can
not get away, the natives would surely
starve to death. Sut wherever there is
a level field of fresh Ice inclosed by
lines OF hummocks fish are sure 10 be
plenty.
Such field, not more than half a mile
long. has more than once afforded
living TO an entire village. 1 know of
one particular instance, said a writer in
Forest and Stream during season
in 1888, when the Ice was very unfa-
vorabie for sealing, and food was pretty
scarce In the village.
The fishing is carried on mostly by
the women and children, though one or
two old men generally go out, and one
or two OF The younger men, when they
cannot go sealing and food is wanted
at the house, Will join the fishing party
Zach fisherman is provided with a
long handled ice pick, which he fire.
quently leaves sticking in the snow
near the fishing ground. long line
made of grips of whalebone, reeled
lengthwtse on a slender wooden shuttle
eighteen inches long, and provided with
copper sinker and two pear-shaped
| '-jigs'' of walrus ivory. armed with four
| barbIess hooks of copper. and scoop
or dipper made of reindeer antlers, with
a wooden handle two feet long.
Hardly an Eskimo. and especially an
| Eskimo boy, stirs out of the house in
| the winter without one OF these scoops
| in his hand To every party OF two or
three there will also be a good-sized bag
| of sealskin, made of a piece OF an old
| KAYAK cover, for bringing home the
fish.
Arriving at the fishing grounds, each
proceeds to pick hole through the ice.
| which is quite four feet thick, clearing
out the chips with the scoop.
The ..iigs" are then let down through
the hole and enough line unreeled to
keep them just clear of the bottom.
reel is held In the right hand, and serves
as a short rod. while the scoop Is held
in the left and used to Keep the mole
course. is constantly forming. The line
is kept In constant motion. 5erked uE
| quickly a short distance, ana then al
lowed TO drop back, SO enat tb bne n,iie
'.jigs,' after the manner of goldfish, are
| hooked in the jaw.
As soon as the fisherman ieels hsf
on his hook he catches up blight OF
the line with his scoop and another be
low this with his reel, and thus reels
up the line on these TWO SUCKS IN loose
coils ts.,til the fish is brought TO the
surface, when a skilIful toss throws hin
off the barbless hook on the ice, wher'
, he gives one onvulstve flap and instant
| ~ freezes solid.
The elastic whalebone line IS thrown
off the Sticks without tangiing, and pai'
oct through the hole again Tor anothe
trial If fish are not found plenty a
;he frst hole. the fisherman shifts hi
ground until he strikes a school
They are sometimes so plenty tina
they NAV h, caug.St as fast as they cal
be hauled up. Oae woman will brini
in upward of a bushel OF little fish-the,
are generally about FIVE or six inche
| iong-frorn single days fishing.
This fishing lasts until the middle o
May, when the ice begins to soften :
| good many are also caught along tn
| shore In November, in about foot Q
water. when there are no tide,craeks
the Ice At this season the Eskimos US
a little rod, only two feet long, with
short lsne and a little ivory squid, a
which the fish bite.-Golden Days