230 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FlSH COMMISSION. 



sea-colander of the American shores, which are familiar examples of 

 these plants, are frequently seen 10, 12, or even 20 feet in leDgth, with 

 immense fronds or aprons terminating their stems ; but these are medi- 

 ocre, indeed, compared with some of their co-ordinates in the Pacific. 

 Some of these plants, it is said, when fully grown, have a stem meas- 

 uring 300 feet in length. These grow where the water is rapid, and 

 have to extend to a great length before their buoyancy will permit them 

 to reach the surface. For about two-thirds of this length from the root 

 up, the stem is about the size of a halibut line. It then expands till at 

 the extremity it assumes a pear-shaped hollow head capable of holding 

 a quart, and from which extends a tuft of upward of fifty leaves, lance- 

 olate in form, each of which is from 40 to 50 feet long. The slender 

 stem is of prodigious strength, and is prepared by the native for use as 

 follows: The stems being cut of a uniform length, generally 15 or 25 

 fathoms each, are placed in running fresh water till they become 

 bleached and all the salt is extracted. They are then stretched and' 

 partially dried in the open air, then coiled up and hung in the smoke of 

 the lodge for a short time. Then they are wet and stretched again 

 and knotted together. This process is continued at regular intervals 

 till the kelp stem becomes tough and as strong as the best hemp line 

 of the same size." 



After using, it is always carefully coiled up; but as it gets brittle if 

 allowed to dry too much it is invariably soaked in salt water before 

 being used. 



The hoolcs. — The hooks used by the Haidah Indians for catching the 

 "skil" or black cod are of a peculiar shape, unlike any fishhook I have 

 ever seen; they are made of the knots or butts of limbs of the hemlock, 

 cut out from old decayed logs. These knots are split into splints of 

 proper size, then roughly shaped with a knife, and then steamed and 

 bent into shape, which shape they retain when cold. This form is 

 adopted, so the Indians informed me, because the bottom on the west 

 coast is very foul with stones and coral formations and incrustations; 

 steel hooks get fast and lines are subject to being lost ; but this style of 

 hook does not get fast. 



When the hook is to be used, the bait is tied on with the string which 

 is used to bring the two ends of the hook together and keep them in 

 position when not baited. After the bait is well secured, a piece of 

 stick is inserted to press the ends of the hook apart. When the fish 

 bites the bait, it knocks out the stick, which lloats to the surface, the 

 two ends of the hook, springing together, close on the fish's head and 

 hold it fast. It is usual to tie from seventy-five to one hundred hooks 

 to the line, at a distance of about 2 feet apart, and the fish are so 

 plentiful that not unfrequently every hook will have a fish. The sticks 

 which floats to the surface, when knocked out of the hook by the fish, 

 serve to indicate to the Indian the sort of luck he is having at the 

 bottom. But although the fish may be adnndant, the Indian is not 



