FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



In the Labrador peninsula, the Indians rely very 

 largely upon the pike-perch for a portion of their 

 food-supply. In winter it is freely taken through 

 the ice by the Montagnais, on set lines. When 

 small fish can be secured for bait, the Indians pre- 

 pare them by slitting an opening in the back, and 

 inserting a piece of wood to keep the bait straight, 

 and to prevent it from doubling up in the water. 

 The lower part of the casting line, next the hook, 

 is laid with the wood along the slit in the back 

 of the fish, so that the hook just reaches to the 

 mouth of the bait, into which it is laid, with the 

 point towards the tail of the fish. Then the bait 

 is bound around to hold everything together, leav- 

 ing the line to rise from the middle of its body. 

 So suspended by the centre of its back, the poise 

 of the bait in the water is perfect, and the piece 

 of wood keeps it in shape. The dore seizes the 

 bait by the head, and when the line is drawn up 

 by the fisherman, the hook is in such a position 

 that it cannot fail to catch in the fish. For this 

 style of fishing, which is only justified by the 

 demands of hunger, a very strong line is necessary, 

 for the teeth of the dore are both sharp and 

 strong. 



Dr. D. C. Estes has described the method of 

 taking these fish by winter set lines in Lake Pepin 

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