FISHERIES OF THE GREAT LAKES. 375 



tlie ice. Tlie usual type of spear consists of 6 double-barbed i^rongs, 

 6 inches long, wliicli are fastened to a crossbar, to which is attached a 

 10 foot wooden handle. The Indians go out to the fishing-grounds in 

 the vicinity of their homes with hand sleds or dog teams. On four 

 uprights at the corners of the sleds a canvas house is constructed to 

 protect the fishermen from the wind. A hole is cut in the ice, over 

 which the sled is drawn, and throngh this the fisherman suspends a 

 decoy fish attached to a line, which is pulled up and down to attract 

 the attention of passing fish. When a fish is seen the spear is thrown 

 with great force, often to a depth of 30 or 40 feet, tlie same being with- 

 drawn by means of a line attached to it. This fishing is often carried 

 on with the mercury 40° to 45° below zero, and sometimes lower, the 

 Indians remaining on the ice all day watching and fishing. Often large 

 catclies are taken, but at times few fish are secured. The catch is made 

 up of whitefish and trout, about three-fourths consisting of the former. 



Winter fishing through the ice with spears is followed by nearly all 

 the male Indians living at or near the rapids of the St. Mary Eiver. 

 While considerable quantities of fish are caught, the fishery is not a 

 commercial one, the catch being used to supply the Indian families. 

 The fish caught are mostly whitefish and herring, which are chiefly con- 

 sumed in a salted condition, a small amount being smoked. Spear 

 fishing of this character is not carried on elsewhere in the Great Lakes, 

 and, while not commercially important, deserves mention. The method 

 pursued is as follows: A hole having been cut through the ice and a 

 small slieltering tent placed over it, the Indian takes his stand and 

 gently raises and lowers a wooden decoy attached to the end of a short 

 line, all the while keeping a sharp lookout for any fish that may be 

 attracted. When a fish is seen the line is dropped and the spear is 

 instantly brought into use. Of late the Indians have found that they 

 can fish as well by night as by day, by simply scooping out a hole in 

 the ice and placing a lantern therein in such a manner as to throw its 

 rays through the ice beneath the open hole. 



Three kinds of spears are used. One, introduced by white men, is 

 called by the Indians the " Yankee spear"; it has a handle 18 to 20 feet 

 long, aiul is provided with three prongs attached to a cross-piece, each 

 10 inches long, and with a barb on either,side of each prong, one placed 

 a few inches above the other. 



The favorite spear of the Indian is his ow^n device and make. It is 

 provided with three prongs, each fastened independently to the end of 

 the handle. The outer prongs are fitted into little grooves on the side 

 of the handle and are kept in place by rivets, while the middle prong- 

 is driven into the center of the pole. Another form of spear used for 

 taking herring consists of a one-pronged piece of barbed iron, driven 

 into or fastened to the end of a pole. This is supplemented with a long 

 piece of iron attached to the end of the spear by its middle and bent 

 into the shape of an incomplete circle, the free ends spreading. The 

 Indians say that in using this spear, if a herring is touched it darts 

 inside the iron band and virtually spears itself. 



