STURGEON-SPEARING. 185 



each feather represented by a piece of bone, thickly 

 barbed, and very sharp at the end. This is so 

 contrived that it can be easily detached from the 

 long handle by a sharp dexterous jerk. To this 

 barbed contrivance a long line is made fast, 

 which is carefully coiled away close to the spear- 

 man, like a harpoon-line in a whale-boat. 



The four canoes, alike equipped, are paddled 

 into the centre of the stream, and side by side 

 drift sloAvly down with the current, each spear- 

 man carefully feeling along the bottom with his 

 spear, constant practice having taught the crafty 

 savages to know a sturgeon's back when the 

 spear comes in contact with it. The spear-head 

 touches the drowsy fish a sharp plunge, and 

 the redskin sends the notched points, through 

 armour and cartilage, deep into the leather-like 

 muscles. A skilful jerk frees the long handle 

 from the barbed end, which remains inextricably 

 fixed in the fish; the handle is thrown aside, 

 the line seized, and the struggle begins. 



The first impulse is to resist this objectionable 

 intrusion, so the angry sturgeon comes up to see 

 what it all means : this curiosity is generally 

 repaid by having a second spear sent crashing 

 into him. He then takes a header, seeking 

 safety in flight, and the real excitement com- 



