EXTRACTS. 305 



" The Chenook fishery is carried on by means of nets. These are made by 

 the whites of the twine prepared for the purpose, and sold as salmon-twine, and 

 rigged with floats and sinkers in the usual style. The nets of the Indians are 

 made of a twine spun by themselves from the fibres of spruce roots prepared for 

 the purpose, or from a species of grass brought from the north by the Indians. 

 It is very strong, and answers the purpose admirably. Peculiar-shaped sticks 

 of dry cedar are used for floats, and the weights at the bottom are round beach 

 pebbles, about a pound each, notched to keep them from slipping from their 

 fastenings, and securely held by withes of cedar firmly twisted and woven into 

 the foot-rope of the net. 



" The nets vary in size from a hundred feet long to a hundred fathoms, or 

 six hundred feet, and from seven to sixteen feet deep. 



" Three persons are required to work a net, except the very large ones, which 

 require more help to land them. The time the fishing is commenced is at the 

 top of high-water, just as the tide begins to ebb. A short distance from the shore 

 the current is very swift, and with its aid these nets are hauled. Two persons 

 get into the canoe, on the stern of which is coiled the net on a frame made for 

 the purpose, resting on the canoe's gunwale. She is then paddled up the stream, 

 close in to the beach, where the current is not so strong. A tow-line, with a 

 wooden float attached to it, is then thrown to the third person, who remains on 

 the beach, and immediately the two in the canoe paddle her into the rapid stream 

 as quickly as they can, throwing out the net all the time. When this is all out, 

 they paddle ashore, having the end of the other tow-line made fast to the canoe. 

 Before all this is accomplished, the net is carried down the stream, by the force 

 of the ebb, about the eighth of a mile, the man on the shore walking along 

 slowly, holding on to the line till the others are ready, when all haul in together. 

 As it gradually closes on the fish, great caution must be used to prevent them 

 from jumping over ; and as every salmon has to be knocked on the head with a 

 club for the purpose, which every canoe carries, it requires some skill and practice 

 to perform this feat so as not to bruise or disfigure the fish." 



" It was formerly the custom among the Chenook Indians, on the appearance 

 of the first salmon, to have a grand feast, with dancing and other performances 

 suited to the occasion ; but the tribe has now dwindled down to a mere handful, 

 and they content themselves simply with taking out the salmon's heart as soon 

 as caught a ceremony they religiously observe, fearful lest by any means a dog 

 should eat one, in which case they think they can catch no more fish that season." 

 (Page 103, etc.). 



Swan (James G-.): The Indians of Cape Flattery, at the Entrance to the Strait 

 of Fuca, Washington Territory; Washington, 1869; No. 220 of Smithsonian Con- 

 tributions to Knowledge. " The principal subsistence of the Makahs is drawn 

 R39 



