Mittal LOVNOR LAW ESE COAST 47 
sometimes almost caricatures. Yet they held a certain charm, telling 
tales of legendary battles or of wonderful ceremonials. In spite of the 
difficulties in the way of his work the man was a true artist, an eager 
spirit, in a race where enthusiasm is rare. 
At Redcliff on the Nass River there was most charming art material, 
the mountains high and partly obscured by clouds dwarfing the houses 
along the shore. It rained almost continuously, however, during our 
stay, but there were intervals when we ventured from the boat in spite of 
the rain. Walking along the shore we found it impossible to get close to 
the houses, the nettles, grown since the previous fishing season in March, 

HAIDA CANOE, ALERT BAY 
forming a successful barricade. » Even on the outskirts we found it 
uncomfortable to stay long in one place, because the refuse of last 
season’s catch still retained its disagreeable odor. So I was obliged to 
procure sketches from a distance. 
_ Once a year the tribes congregate at this place as they have done for 
years. For one month, while the run of eulichon or candle fish is on, 
the Indian employs all his time catching the small sardine-shaped fish 
and preparing it for use. Many hundreds of the fish are dried in the sun 
to serve later as candles. Many more hundreds are put into water with 
hot stones and allowed to cook until the oil rises and can be skimmed 
off to serve later as butter. ‘The third picture, that of the Tsimshian, 
