74 FISH HARVESTING. 



base of the falls without hitting a fish : fifty and 

 more may be seen in the air at a time, leaping 

 over the wicker traps, but, failing to clear the 

 ' salmon-leap, ' fall back, and are caged. In 

 each basket two naked Indians are stationed 

 all day long; and as they are under a heavy 

 fall of water, frequent relays are necessary. 

 Salmon three or four at a time, in rapid suc- 

 cession, tumble into the basket. The Indians 

 thrust their fingers under the gills, strike the 

 fish on the head with a heavy club, and then fling 

 them on the rocks. I have known three hundred 

 salmon landed from one basket betwixt sunrise 

 and sunset, varying in weight from twenty to 

 seventy-five pounds. 



From the heaps of fish piled on the rocks, 

 boys and girls carry and drag them back to the 

 squaws seated round the curing-houses; with 

 sharp knives they rip the salmon open, twist off 

 the head, and cleverly remove the backbone ; then 

 hanging them on poles, close under the roofs of 

 sheds the sides of which are open, they dry them 

 slowly, small fires being kept constantly smoul- 

 dering on the floors. The smoke serves to keep 

 away the flies, and perhaps also aids in the pre- 

 servation of the fish. The only portions eaten by 

 the Indians during the catching are the heads, 



