Salmon Fishing 185 



The Indians of Neah Bay, Washington, do a 

 considerable business in trolling for silver salmon, 

 and have been known to take as many as four thou- 

 sand fish in a day. The principal fishing grounds 

 lie off the mouth of the bay, in the vicinity of 

 Tatoosh Rock, and some two or three miles 

 farther south. The catch is mostly shipped to 

 a cannery at Port Townsend. 



Early in the morning the Indians repair to the 

 grounds, remaining out all day, and sometimes 

 after dark, the weather permitting. The spoons 

 are about two sizes larger than those used else- 

 where on the coast, with no increase in the size 

 of the hook. Trolling lines are usually white 

 cotton, sometimes tanned, size thirty thread. A 

 complete fishing outfit consists only of a line one 

 hundred and fifty feet long and a trolling spoon. 

 Pieces of salmon and small herring are used for 

 bait. 



In trolling, the canoe is paddled, except in very 

 light breezes, when the sail is set. The line is 

 held in the hand which grasps the upper part of 

 the paddle. When a fish is hooked the paddle 

 is thrown into the bottom of the canoe and a 

 straight overhand pull begins. The canoe being 

 light, her headway soon stops, which lessens the 



