SALMONID^. 29 



frequently see nmcli larger ones, which we cannot t;ikc for want of 

 nets sufficiently strong to hold them. 



" ^Augiisi 15. Salmon begin to come up the river. Few Salmon 

 came up Stuart's River this fall, but we procured a sufficient quantity 

 at Frazor's Lake and Stillas. These lakes discharge their waters into 

 Frazer's River, which is about fifty rods wide, and has a pretty strong 

 current. The natives pass the greater part of the summer on a chain 

 of small lakes, where they procure excellent White Fish, Trout, and 

 Carp ; but towards the latter part of August they return to the banks 

 of the river, in order to take and dry Salmon for their subsistence 

 during the succeeding winter. 



"' 1813. Augitsi 12. Salmon have arrived. 



" ' 1814. A.iigiist 5. Salmon begin to come up the river. They are 

 generally taken in considerable numbers until the latter part of Sep- 

 tember. For a month they come up in multitudes, and we can take 

 any number we please. 



^^ ^September 20. We have had but few Salmon this year. It is 

 only every second season that they are numerous, the reason of which 

 I am unable to assign. 



" ' 1815. August 13. — Frazer's Lake. Salmon begin to come up 

 the river, which lights up joy in the countenances both of ourselven 

 and of the natives, for we had all become nearly destitute of provisions. 



*•" 1816. September 9. Salmon begin to come up this river. 



" ' 1817. August 6. — Stuart's Lake. Salmon arrived. In the 

 month of June, we took out of this lake twenty-one Sturgeon, thai 

 were from eight to twelve feet in length. One of them measured 

 twelve feet two inches from its extreme points, four feet eleven inches 

 round the middle, and would weigh from five hundred and fifty to six 

 hundred pounds. 



" ' The Carrier Indians reside a part of the year in villages, built at 

 convenient places for taking and drying Salmon, as they come up the 

 rivers. These fish they take in alxuidance with little labor , and they 

 constitute their principal food during the whole year. They are not 

 very unpalatable when eaten alone, and with vegetables they are very 

 pleasant food. Towards the middle of April, and sometimes sooner, 

 the natives leave their villages, to go and pass about two months at 

 the small lakes, from which, at that season, they take White Fish, 



