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lific contributors to the literature concerning the habits, 
characteristics and language of the North American 
Indians. He says of the whitefishing at the Sault in 
Ha20 - 
‘“No place in America has been so justly celebrated as 
a locality for taking this really fine and delicate fish as 
St. Marie’s Falls. This fish resorts here in great num- 
bers, and is in season after the autumnal equinox, and 
continued so until the ice begins to run. It is wor- 
thy the attention of ichthyologists. It is a remarkable 
but not singular fact in its natural history, that it is per- 
petually found in the attitude of ascending at these falls. 
It is taken only in the swift water at the foot of the last 
leap or descent. Into this swift water the Indians push 
their canoes. It requires great skill and dexterity for 
this. The fishing canoe is of small size and is steered by 
the man in the stern. The fisherman takes his stand in 
the bow, sometimes bestriding the vessel, having a scap 
net in his hand. This net is made of strong twine, open 
at the top like an entomologist’s. When the canoe has 
been run into the uppermost rapids and a school of fish is 
seen below or alongside, he dextrously puts down his net 
and having swooped upon a number of fish, instantly 
reverses it in the water, whips it up and discharges its 
contents into the conoe. ‘This he repeats until the canoe 
is loaded, when he shoots out of the tail of the rapids 
and makes for the shore. The fish will average three 
pounds, but individuals are sometimes taken two or three 
times that weight. Itisa great resource of the Indians and 
of the French, and of the poor generally at these falls 
who eat it with never-ceasing appetite. It is also a 
standing dish with all.” 
Listen to his tribute to the edible character of the 
whitefish : 
