ON THE ECONOJIICAL USES OF FISHES. 213 



rudely formed, are, to say the least, often as efficient 

 as those of more civilized countries. The wooden 

 and mother-of-pearl hooks, used by the natives of 

 the Sandwich and other isles, are still preferred to 

 those of iron in many instances. 



A voyager describes the fishing-tackle of two In- 

 dians engaged in fishing for the halibut, somewhat 

 as follows : " Their hook is a large simple piece of 

 wood, the shank at least half-an-inch in diameter, 

 that part which turns up, and which forms an acute 

 angle, is considerably smaller, and brought gradually 

 to a point. A flat piece of wood, about six inches 

 in length, is neatly lashed to the shank, on the back 

 • of which is neatly carved the representation of a 

 human face." Their lines were no less coarse when 

 compared with those of Europeans, being construct- 

 ed of sinews or intestines of animals. He adds, 

 that his boat's crew, of seven men, was completely 

 beaten in fishing by these poor savages, and found 

 it more profitable to buy from them than fish for 

 themselves. 



The fisheries carried on in North America are 

 both numerous and extensive, as may be conjec- 

 tured from their produce, which of three, the cod, 

 mackarel, and herring, in the United States annually 

 amount to the sum of more than a million of dol- 

 lars, nearly one-half of which is derived from the 

 cod- fishery. As we have already despatched these 

 above-mentioned fisheries, at least as conducted in 

 Britain, a notice of the fresh- water fish used as food 



