50 



TSIMSHIAN MYTHOLOGY 



tight baskets and hats are woven of twined spruce-root work (fig. 10; 

 see also illustrations of such basketry in Emmons 1). To a certain 

 extent spruce-root basketry takes the place of tha small boxes which 

 are exclusively used on the southern part of the coast for carrying 

 water. Baskets made of woven cedar bark are largely used for stor- 

 age of provisions, for keeping blankets, for box covers, for holding 

 spoons, and for berrying. 



For fishing, hooks and harpoons are employed. For halibut fishing 

 a tackle is used with a crosspiece made of a light twig, to each end of 

 which a hook is tied (fig. 11). After the fish is landed it is killed 



vood. b. Front of box. 



with a carved club (fig. 12). A great variety of forms of fish traps 

 are found, in which large quantities of salmon are secured during the 

 summer months. Traps are also used for securing land game. Small 

 fur-bearing animals, as well as larger game, as bears and deer, are 

 trapped in this manner. 



The bow (fig. 13) is of simple construction. It is made of a single 

 piece of yew wood, with slightly curved back, flat belly, and narrow, 

 round grip. The arrows are carried in a wooden quiver. Arrows 

 with detachable heads were used for hunting sea otter, while land 

 game was hunted with arrows having bone points. 



