34 SALMON FISHERIES OF PACIFIC COAST. 



and in a desultory manner for two or three months more, only the 

 severe winter weather preventing operations the rest of the year. 



In southeast Alaska the fishermen generally use either the Hen- 

 dryx Seattle trout-bait spoon no. 5 or the Hendryx Puget Sound 

 no. 8. The former comes in nickel or brass or nickel and brass, the 

 full nickel preferred. The Siwash hook no. 9/0, known as the Vic- 

 toria hook in British Columbia, is in quite general use. As a rule, 

 but one hook is used, and this hangs from a ring attached to a swivel 

 just above the spoon, while the point of the hook comes a little below 

 the bottom of the spoon. Occasionally double or treble hooks are 

 used. Some fishermen use bait, and when this is done the herring, 

 the bait almost universally employed, is so hooked through the body 

 as, when placed in the water, to stretch out almost straight and face 

 forward as in life. 



A small commercial fishery is carried on in this region for coho 

 salmon, mainly in August and September, in the neighborhood of 

 Turnabout Island, in Frederick Sound. A Stewart spoon with two 

 hooks on one ring is used, baited with herring in such a way that the 

 fish is straightened out and faced toward the spoon. The sportsmen 

 of Ketchikan also fish with rod and reel for this species in the neigh- 

 borhood of Gravina Island, using a Hendryx spoon (kidney bait 

 no. 6), which is silvery in color on one side and red on the other. 

 Although much smaller than the king, the coho salmon is more gamy. 



Reports from the trailers of southeast Alaska prove that all species 

 of salmon will take the hook at some time or other in the salt waters 

 of this region, an examination of their stomachs generally showing 

 that they are either feeding or in a condition to feed. 



BOW AND ARROW. 



On the Tanana River, a tributary of the Yukon River, in Alaska, 

 the Indians hunt salmon in birch-bark canoes with bow and arrow. 

 As the canoe is paddled along and the Indian sees the dorsal fin of 

 the salmon cutting the surface of the muddy water he shoots it. The tip 

 of the arrow fits into, a socket, and when struck the tip, which when 

 loose is attached to the stock by a long string, comes out of the socket 

 and the arrow floats, easily locating the fish for the fisherman. 



SPEAR AND GAFF. 



Spears of varying shapes and styles have been in use by the In- 

 dians from time immemorial and are still employed on many rivers 

 in which salmon run. With the exception of the Chilkoot and Chil- 

 kat Rivers of Alaska, practically all of the catch secured in this 

 manner is consumed by the fishermen and their families. In the 

 Chilkoot River the Indians have built numerous racks in the stream 

 and on the banks, upon which they stand and hook the fish out with 

 a gaff attached to a pole. The catch is sold to the cannery located on 

 Chilkoot Inlet. 



