74 FISH HARVESTING. 
base of the falls without hitting a fish: fifty and 
more may be seen in the air at a time, leaping 
over the wicker traps, but, failing to clear the 
‘salmon-leap,’ fall back, and are caged. In 
each basket two naked Indians are stationed 
all day long; and as they are under a heavy 
fall of water, frequent relays are necessary. 
Salmon three or four at a time, in rapid suc- 
cession, tumble into the basket. The Indians 
thrust their fingers under the gills, strike the 
fish on the head witha heavy club, and then fling 
them on the rocks. I have known three hundred 
salmon landed from one basket betwixt sunrise 
and sunset, varying in weight from twenty to 
seventy-five pounds. 
From the heaps of fish piled on the rocks, 
boys and girls carry and drag them back to the 
squaws seated round the curing-houses; with 
sharp knives they rip the salmon open, twist off 
the head, and cleverly remove the backbone; then 
hanging them on poles, close under the roofs of 
sheds the sides of which are open, they dry them 
slowly, small fires being kept constantly smoul- 
dering on the floors. The smoke serves to keep 
away the flies, and perhaps also aids in the pre- 
servation of the fish. The only portions eaten by 
the Indians during the catching are the heads, 
