158 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



[Vol. IV. 



With regard to the mode of netting, the drag-nets of the Western 

 Denes are of two kinds : one is intended for service against any species 

 of fish, with the exception of the sturgeon, and the other is of use to 

 capture the latter fish exclusively. Fig. 149 will explain the manner of 



Fig. 149. 



Fig. 150. 



knotting the sturgeon net, while all the other kinds of netting, whether 

 drag, scoop, or dip-nets, or even, the packing bags which shall soon be 

 described, are knotted, as shown in fig. 150. 



No mesh-stick is used while the Carrier is working at the smaller 

 varieties of nets. It is replaced by the middle finger of the left hand. 

 In this case, the netting-needle also consists merely in a narrow piece of 

 board scalloped at either end to receive the twine which is wound around. 

 But when at work upon large-meshed nets, our aborigines have recourse 

 to the picture frame-like wooden implement herewith figured. This is 



Fig. 151. 



size. 



carved out of one piece and serves as a mesh-stick. It has replaced the 

 original wooden horse-shoe made of a bent twig. In this case a regular 

 netting shuttle is also resorted to. As this is in every particular identical 

 with that common among white fishermen, it is but natural to infer that 

 it is here a borrowed article. 



