OF NORTH CAROLINA. 339 



oyster shell, or some such thing, to scrape withal 

 till it is dry ; whereby it becomes soft and pliable. 

 Yet these so dressed will not endure wet, but be- 

 come hard thereby ; which to prevent, they either 

 cure them in the smoke or tan them with bark, as 

 before observed ; not but that young indian corn, 

 beaten to a pulp, will effect the same as the brains. 

 They are not only good hunters of the wild beasts 

 and game of the forest, but very expert in taking the 

 fish of the rivers and waters near which they in- 

 habit, and are acquainted withal. Thus they that 

 a live great way up the rivers practice striking stur- 

 geon and rockfish, or bass, when they come up the 

 rivers to spawn ; besides the vast shoals of sturgeon 

 which they kill and take with snares, as we do 

 pike in Europe. The herrings, in March and 

 April, run a great way up the rivers and fresh 

 streams to spawn, where the savages make great 

 wares with hedges that hinder their passage only 

 in the middle,, where an artificial pond is made to 

 take them in, so that they cannot .return. This 

 method is in use all over the fresh streams, to 

 catch trout and the other species of fish which 

 those parts afford. Their taking of crawfish is so 

 pleasant, that I cannot pass it by without mention ; 

 when they have a mind to get these shell fish, 

 they take a piece of venison and half barbacue or 

 roast it, then they cut it into thin slices, which 

 slices they stick through with reeds about six 

 inches asunder betwixt piece and piece ; then the 

 reeds are made sharp at one end ; and so they 



