EXTRACTS. 311 



when a certain number of men in canoes keep plashing the water, while others 

 sink branches of the pine with stones ; the fish are then easily taken out with 

 wooden troughs or wicker baskets. We have sometimes seen such numbers of 

 them, that a whole village has not been able to cleanse them before they began 

 to grow putrid. After being cleaned, they are placed on rods, and hung in rows, 

 at a certain distance, over their fires, that thay may be smoked ; and when they 

 are sufficiently dried, they are carefully packed up in mats, and laid by as a part, 

 and a very considerable part, of their winter's provision. The season for taking 

 these fish is in the months of July and August. Certain people, at this time, 

 are stationed on particular eminences, to look for the arrival of the shoals, which 

 can be very readily distinguished by the particular motion of the sea. The 

 natives then embark in their canoes to proceed in their fishery. The sardine is 

 preferred by them to every other kind of fish, except the salmon. 



" In the months of July, August, and September, salmon are taken, though 

 not in so great abundance as the other fish, but are of a very delicate flavour. 

 They are split, dried, and packed up, as has already been described, and are con- 

 sidered as a great delicacy. The salmon of the district of Nootka are very dif- 

 ferent from those found to the Northward, which are of an inferior kind, and of 

 the same species with those taken at Kamtschatka. 



" During our stay in King George's Sound, we saw very few sharks or hali- 

 but ; but the cod taken by the natives were of the best quality : they are also 

 prepared, like the rest, for the purpose of winter stores." (Vol. Ill, page 29, etc.). 



" The occupations of the men of this coast were such as arose from their 

 particular situation. Fishing, and hunting the land or larger marine animals, 

 either for food or furs, form their principal employments. The common business 

 of fishing for ordinary sustenance is carried on by slaves, or the lower class of 

 people : While the more noble occupation of killing the whale and hunting the 

 sea-otter, is followed by none but the chiefs and warriors. 



" Their dexterity in killing the whale is not easily described, and the facility 

 with which they convey so huge a creature to their habitations is no less remark- 

 able. When it is determined to engage in whale-hunting, which the most stormy 

 weather does not prevent, the chief prepares himself, with no common ceremony, 

 for this noble diversion. He is cloathed on the occasion in the sea-otter's skin ; 

 his body is besmeared with oil, and daubed with red ochre ; and he is accompa- 

 nied by the most brave, active, and vigorous people in his service. 



" The canoes employed on this occasion are of a size between their war 

 canoes and those they use on ordinary occasions ; they are admirably well adapted 

 to the purpose, and are capable of holding, conveniently, eighteen or twenty men. 



" The harpoons which they use to strike the whale or any other sea-animal, 

 except the otter, are contrived with no common skill. The shaft is from eighteen 



