318 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



are eagerly sought for. The kelp and seaweeds which grow abundantly 

 all along the shore are also utilized. 



In the woods the deer, the elk, the black and grizzly bear, the wolf, 

 and many other animals are found. The mountain goat lives on the 

 higher ranges of the mainland. The beaver, the otter, marten, mink, 

 and fur seal furnish valuable skins, which were formerly used for blan- 

 kets. The Indians keep in their villages dogs which assist the hunters. 



The staple food of the Indians is, however, furnished by the sea. 

 Seals, sea lions, and whales are found in considerable numbers; but the 

 people depend almost entirely upon various species of salmon, the hali- 

 but, and the oulachon or candleflsh {Thaleichthys pacificus, Girard), 

 which are caught in enormous quantities. Various specimens of cod and 

 other sea tish also furnish food. Herrings visit the coast early in spring. 

 In short, there is such an abundance of animal life in the sea that the 

 Indians live almost solely upon it. Besides fish, they gather various 

 kinds of shellfish, sea urchins, and cuttlefish. 



The people are, therefore, essentially fishermen, all other pursuits 

 being of secondary importance. Whales are pursued only by the tribes 

 of the west coast of Vancouver Island. Other tribes are satisfied with 

 the dead carcasses of wliales which drift ashore. Sea lions and seals 

 are harpooned, the barbed harpoon point being either attached to a 

 bladder or tied to the stern of the canoe. The harpoon lines are made 

 of cedar bark and sinews. The meat of these sea animals is eaten, 

 while their intestines are used for the manufacture of bowstrings and 

 bags. Codfish and halibut are caught by means of hooks. These are 

 attached to fish lines made of kelp. The hook is provided with a 

 sinker, while the upper part is kept afioat by a bladder or a wooden 

 buoy. Cuttlefish are used for bait. The fish are either roasted over or 

 near the fire or boiled in wooden kettles by means of red-hot stones. 

 Those intended for use in winter are split in strips and dried in the sun 

 or over the fire. Salmon are caught in weirs and fish traps when ascend- 

 ing the rivers, or by means of nets dragged between two canoes. Later 

 in the season salmon are harpooned. For fishing in deeper water, a 

 very long double-pointed harpoon is used. Herring and oulachon are 

 caught by means of a long rake. The oulachon are tried in canoes or 

 kettles filled with water, which is heated by means of red-hot stones. 

 The oil is kept in bottles made of dried kelp. In winter, dried halibut 

 and salmon dipped in oil is one of the principal dishes of the tribes living 

 on the outer coast. Clams and mussels are collected by the women ; 

 they are eaten fresh, or strung on sticks or strips of cedar bark and 

 dried for winter use. Cuttlefish are caught by means of long sticks; 

 sea eggs are obtained by means of round bag nets. Fish roe, particu- 

 larly that of herring, is collected in great quantities, dried, and eaten 

 with oil. 



Sea grass, berries, and roots are gathered by the women. The sea 

 grass is cut, formed into square cakes, and dried for winter use. The 

 same is done with several kinds of berries, which when used are dis- 

 solved in water and eaten mixed with fish oil. Crab-apples are boiled 



