EXTRACTS. 269 



proceeding in the following way : by heavy blows with an axe they make a hole 

 of sufficient size in the ice of a lake or river ; they make smaller ones at a cer- 

 tain distance from each other, and by means of a pole they pass a string from 

 hole to hole below the ice ; this string, as long as the net to be extended, reaches 

 to the last hole, and by drawing it forward the whole net attached to it is stretched 

 out in the water. To examine the net, it is drawn through the largest opening, 

 and the fish taken out. Afterward it is only necessary to draw back the string 

 for stretching the net again, the pole simply serving for passing the string the 

 first time." (Vol. I, page 245).* 



" We found in the bellies of several large fishes hooks made of a piece of 

 wood and a bone, so placed as to form a hook, and very neatly bound together 

 with hemp ; but the line being too weak for drawing on board such large fishes, 

 the result was the loss of the labor of the fishermen, and of the hooks thrown 

 into the sea by them ; for, in verity, there are in this fresh-water sea sturgeon, 

 assihendos, trout, and pike of such monstrous size, that larger ones cannot be 

 seen anywhere else, not to speak of several other kinds of fish there caught, 

 which are here (in Europe) unknown." (Vol. Ill, page 588) .f 



"As for the fishes found in the rivers and lakes in the countrj^ of our Hurons, 

 and particularly in the fresh-water sea, the principal are the Assihendo, of which 

 we have spoken elsewhere, and trout, called Ahouyoche by them, which are 

 mostly of extraordinary size, insomuch that I have not seen there any that were 

 not bigger than the largest we have on this side ; their flesh is ordinarilj^ red, 

 though in some of a yellow or orange color, yet of excellent taste. 



" The pike, called Soruissan, which they catch here also with the sturgeon, 

 called Hixrahon, astonish people, for some are of marvelous size, and more pal- 

 atable than any of our species of fish. Some weeks after the season for 



catching large fish, they pursue the capture of the Einchataon, a kind somewhat 



* " Pendant I'Hyuer, du filet que les femnies & flUes ont dispose, les hommes en font des rets & seines pour 

 pescher & prendre Is poisson iusques sous la glace, par le moyen des trous qu'ils y font en plusieurs endroits, dont 

 en voicy la methode, 



" lis font a grands coups de bache nn trou assez grandelet dans la glace d'un lac ou de lariuiere; ils en font 

 d'autres plus petits d'espaces en espaces, & auec des perches ils passent une flscelle de trous en trous par dessous la 

 glace: ceste fiscelle aussi longue que les rets qu'on veut tendre, se va arrester au dernier trou, par lequel on tire, 

 & on estend dedans I'eau toute la rets qui luy est attache. Quand on les veut visiter, on les retire par la plus 

 grande ouuerture, pour en recueillir le poisson, puis il ne faut que retirer la fiscelle pour les retendre, les perches 

 ne seruans qu'a passer la premiere fois la fiscelle." 



f " Nous trouuasmes dans le ventre de plusieurs grands poissons, des ains faicts d'un morceau de bois acccom- 

 mode auec un os, qui seruoit de crochet & lie fort proprement auec de leur chanure, mais la corde trop foible pour 

 tirer a bord de si gros poissons, auoit faict perdre & la peine & les ains de ceux qui les auoient iettez en mer, car 

 veritablement il y a dans cette mer douce des esturgeons, assihendos, truittes & brochets, si monstrueusement 

 grands qu'il ne s'en voit point ailleurs de plus gros, non plus que de plusieurs autres especes de poissons qu'on y 

 pesche & qui nous sont icy incognus." 



