502 NET SETTING UNDER ICE. 



lessons, before leaving home, upon the subject of net- 

 making and repairing, from a practical net-maker. 



Even the closing up of great waters by ice by no 

 means puts a stop to the setting of nets or line fishing, 

 and in the Hudson Bay Territory for example some 

 of the most valuable fishing of the year is carried on 

 during the winter. Holes of course have to be cut in 

 the ice, and it frequently occurs that numbers of fish 

 are attracted to these holes, probably by the light, 

 when excellent fishing is often obtained by the native 

 Indians, who follow this sort of fishing. Small fish 

 coming to the air-hole are thus caught in large numbers. 

 When the line is let down, either to the bottom or to 

 considerable depths, one man can watch several holes, 

 the lines being made fast to a cross stick of wood, 

 so placed that when a fish gets on, its tugging at the 

 line causes a small flag or other signal to turn up, and 

 announce the capture to the fisherman. The setting 

 of nets beneath the ice is a process that requires an 

 experienced hand. The method employed in the Hudson 

 Bay Territory is thus described by Sir John Richard- 

 son: 



" The first step is to make a line of holes about fifteen 

 feet apart; a pole is introduced along the surface of the 

 water, carrying a line, which hauls in a string of nets properly 

 buoyed and loaded, but seldom exceeding five in number. 

 The rope is then detached and each end of the net fastened 

 to a piece of wood, laid across the respective holes. Next 

 day the (end) holes are opened, the rope attached at one 

 end and veered away as the nets are withdrawn at the 

 opposite hole. The fish being removed, the nets are drawn 

 back to their places by the line. A line of nets reaches 

 about 400 yards, and the fishermen generally endeavour to 

 carry it entirely across a strait or pass in the lake which fish 



