boas] DESCRIPTION OF THE TSIMSHIAN 399 



Between February and March, "Month When Olachen Is Eaten." 



Between March and April, "Month When Olachen Is Cooked." 



Between April and May(?). 



Between May and June, "Egg Month." 



Between June and July, "Salmon Month." 



Between July and August, "Humpback-Salmon Month." 



Between August and September (?). 



Between September and October, "Spinning-Top Month." 



Seasonal Occupations. — Before entering into a description of the 

 methods of fishing and hunting, the seasonal occupations of the people 

 may be described. Toward the end of winter, before the ice of the 

 rivers breaks up, the olachen go up Nass River. At this season all 

 the tribes — men, women, and children — move there (172, 227, 238, 

 275, 299, 300, 1.119, 1.189), not only the Tsimshian, but also tribes 

 like the Git-qxa'la (1.121). Each tribe has its own camping-place. 



The olachen fishing in Nass River is referred to in the Raven legend 

 (02 ) , and the early moving of the tribes to Nass River is mentioned fre- 

 quently in the tales (173, 178, 238). Sometimes, when the olachen 

 were late in coming, there would be a famine on Nass River (228, 

 1.121). After the olachen fishing the Tsimshian returned to Met- 

 lakahtla (231, 303, 1.119, 1 .123), where they staid until the salmon-run. 

 Then they moved to their villages on Skeena River for salmon fishing 

 (173) . Here the towns KsE-ma'ksEn (244, 1 . 1 19) of the Ginax'angi'°k, 

 and Ksdal (252, 272, 1.147) of the GidzExla' !, are mentioned (see 

 p. 394). In the fall the men would go to their hunting-grounds 

 (244) accompanied by their wives ' (141, 152, 244). Winter hunting 

 is mentioned on 152 and 239. Thepeoplemovedbackto their hunting- 

 ground in midwinter. The bulk of the tribes, however, lived during 

 the winter season in the permanent villages ; the Tsimshian, in Metla- 

 kahtla. They returned there late in the fall (239). Sometimes a 

 single family remained behind (239), but generally the whole tribe 

 moved. In N 200 we hear of a hunter going to his hunting-hut in 

 midwinter. Late in winter, when the stores of fish were consumed, 

 there was often starvation. In fact, this is the ever-recurring theme 

 of Tsimshian tales (15S, 239, 242, 250, 292, 1.71, 1.167, N 171, N 178, 

 N 200, N 225). During a famine the rich people would leave the 

 poor; and widows, old people, and orphans would die of hunger (158). 

 Starving people built little sheds for themselves (N 185). 



Fishing. — Salmon were caught through a hole cut in the ice, a 

 bag net being held under the ice (250). After the first salmon had 

 been caught in this way, all the people began fishing in this manner 

 (250). 



aid that the people used to hunl in I lie fall, Imt also in the spring, 



