38 SALMONID^. 



"Up here." 



" Let's see him. Ho, ho! So! you rascal, where did yon 

 get these good half-dozen ? Now, look here, Joe, "you cau't 

 fool me. Do you see this mark around these fishes' shoul- 

 ders — and their tails split, too. You've been netting, you 

 scoundrel ! There's your stake-buoy out yonder, and your 

 canoe here as sound as a nut, and not a hole in it, I've a 

 notion to bring you before the warden. If I catch you 

 again, I'll do it. Two dollars fine or ten days' jail — do you 

 hear? Now, I'll take one of these salmon along just to 

 keep my tongue quiet. Good day, Joe ; look out for your- 

 self." * 



Plague take these Indians. If they were not watched, 

 they'd destroy the river — stretching their nets across the 

 narrowest places so that not a fish can pass up. Dipping is 

 bad enough, but netting is ten times worse. Up here at 

 " Kill Devil Hole" I'll show you how they dip salmon. I'll 

 wager Sam is there now. Ah ! here we come to a long reach 

 of still water — fully a mile. See those salmon leaping — one 

 — two — three ! What somersaults they turn ! I had no idea 

 they were running up like this. The season is ten days ear- 

 lier than usual. It's of no use to throw a fly over them. 

 They won't take a fly when they are jumping. There is no 

 more rod-fishing until you get to the next pool above. See ! 

 away up the river, where it narrows so ? Don't you per- 

 ceive the foam dashing through the gorge ? That's " Kill 

 Devil Hole." I've seen a dozen Indians dipping there at 

 once, and fortunate was the salmon who could pass thi 

 gauntlet. There's Sam at it now ! You see him standing 

 on the ledge, up to his ankles in the foam, steadily plying 

 that long-handled scoop. He dips it into the water mouth 

 downward, and the force of the current carries it on, and 

 gives it an impetus which enables him to lift it out without 

 much physical exertion. As the passage is narrow, and the 

 mouth of the net wide, the chances of the salmon escaping 

 are very precarious. 



