64 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



Asking Skool why he did not use the gaff-hooks, he replied 

 that the hard rocks that bordered the.stream would ruin them, 

 and that not more than one or two fish could be caught before 

 the gaff would be broken. Asking him if he was satisfied with 

 the number of Salmon caught, he replied that he was not. 

 He said: "Many, many people; all the Salmon twelve women 

 can carry not much." By this time some of the young bucks 

 had partially sobered, and came staggering up the path. As 

 soon as they arrived they began to strip themselves naked, 

 and, taking the gaff-hooks, waded into the stream. They 

 caught but few Salmon before either the hooks or the handles 

 were 'broken. Then they began to search with their hands 

 under the bowlders and shelving rocks for fish. When they 

 felt one they would slip a hand in his gills, seize him by 

 the tail, bend his body so he could not struggle, and then 

 throw him far out on the bank. 



The school of Salmon had (as always is the case in the 

 middle of the day) ceased to run. So it was only stragglers 

 that were now caught. Skool proposed walking over a low 

 ridge and reaching the stream above. The stream is crooked, 

 and by walking a few hundred yards we would reach it at a point 

 where we would meet the great school of the morning. When 

 we arrived at the place desired, we found the stream three 

 times as wide as it was below, and but few inches in depth, 

 with a white, sandy bottom. It was literally filled with 

 Salmon. The Indians at once stripped themselves nude, and, 

 entering the living mass, began throwing them on the bank. 

 We walked along the bank, and, seizing a fish that ventured 

 too near the bank, would throw it on the shore. But we were 

 losing the great excitement the Indians were having, as they 

 ran laughing and splashing in the water. Besides, every fish 

 we caught would splash us from head to foot. 



We could stand it no longer. I took my hunting-knife 

 and cut two vine-maple clubs. "Back to the Stone Age!" I 

 shouted. "Away with civilization!" and we were primeval 



