76 FISH HARVESTING. 



rivers north of it to the Arctic Ocean, salmon 

 ascend in prodigious abundance. In the Fraser 

 there are no obstructions as far as Fort Hope to 

 the salmon ascent ; hence fishing is carried on by 

 each village or family for themselves, and not by 

 the combined labour of many, as on the Colum- 

 bia. Near the mouth of the river large iron aff- 



o o 



hooks are generally used ; with these ugly weapons 

 salmon are hooked into the canoes. Higher up, 

 at the mouths of the Sumass, Chilukweyuk, and 

 other tributary streams, they use a very ingenious 

 kind of net worked between two canoes, with 

 which large numbers of salmon are taken. Stages, 

 too, are hung over the eddies from the rocks, 

 and round nets used as at the Cascades. 



On the Nanimo river the Indians have a very 

 ingenious contrivance for taking salmon, by con- 

 structing a weir ; but, instead of putting baskets, 

 they pave a square place, about six feet wide and 

 fourteen feet long, with white or light-coloured 

 stones. This pavement is always on the lower 

 side of the weir, leading to an opening. A 

 stage is erected between two of these paved 

 ways, where Indians, lying on their stomachs, can 

 in an instant see if a salmon is traversing the 

 white paved way. A long spear, barbed at the 

 end, is held in readiness, and woe betide the 



