282 ETHNOLOGY. 



aware Eiver, (figure 48.) He says of it, it " is so large that possibly it 

 may be regarded as that of a javelin, and uot of an arrow." It is shorter 

 by half an inch than our specimen, although otherwise of about the 

 same dimensions. 



In Chapter I, reference was made to the excellence of the fishing- 

 grounds about Trenton, N. J., at the time the first settlers arrived there; 

 and it may probably be well to note some of the more common and 

 larger species that frequent the Delaware Eiver. Prominent is the 

 well-known shad, {Alosa prcestaUis, DeKay,) which enters the river, from 

 the sea, in March, and continues to arrive and work up-stream through 

 the spring months and June. North of Trenton, N. J., or above tide- 

 water, they spawn in the river, and also in many of the tide- water creeks. 

 This fish was probably more caught by weirs and other like means than 

 by spearing, as they do not often enter shallow streams or wander from 

 the channel of the river. 



Loskiel remarks: "In Carolina, the Indians frequently use fire in 

 fishing. A certain kind of fish will even leap into the boats which 

 have fire in them." 



We can readily see how, in " fire-fishing," the spear would be abso- 

 lutely necessary, since few fish are more than attracted icithin reach by the 

 light of a fire ; but, as we know by experience, this attraction suffices to 

 keep them hovering about the boat as long as the fire burns brightly, 

 and that the " false shots " one may make in trying to spear these dazed 

 animals does not at all frighten them off. The large cyprinoids, as 

 Semotilus rhotheus, and the so-called " suckers," are the most easily 

 speared of all our fishes when once attracted by a blazing fire. 



The pike, [Esox reticulatus^) rock-fish, {Roccus Uneatus,) and yellow- 

 perch, {Perca Jlavescens,) are all species that attain to a large size, 

 and, judging from their present habits,* were no doubt eagerly sought 

 with the spear by the Indian. The habit of the first mentioned of 

 the three, that of lying in shallow water, underneath the leaves of the 

 water-lily, [ISlymphea^) makes it a most desirable species to "hunt," inas- 

 much as it can be got near to by the exercise of a moderate amouut of 

 care; and one cannot doubt the ability of the ancient or modern Indian 

 to silently approach an unsuspecting fish or bird or mammal. This 



*We say "judging from their present habits," (for it is very certain that the habits 

 of even fish have changed since the occupancy of this country by the European,) and, 

 although this is not tlie place for the discussion of this most interesting question, 

 would add, that, so far as our observation extends, the species of mammals, birds, and 

 fishes remaining in the neighborhood of " settled" localities tiave changed their habits 

 80 far as is necessary to ])rotect themselves from the attack and pursuit of luan. Mam- 

 mals are more strictly uoctnrnal when living in thiclily-settled farming-districts ; birds 

 also are more nocturnal in their habits, and locate their nests at greater elevations, 

 and in thickly-tangled thickets ; while fish, too, soon learn that they are safest in 

 deep waters, and will regard with greater suspicion an unusual object when placed iu 

 a frequented portion of the stream than when the same object is deposited in remote 

 localities where they are seldom if ever disturbed. 



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