Hoffman] FISHING AND TRAPPING 273 



a panther, wolf, beaver, or an otter is reported as having been seen, 

 but grouse and ptarmigan are somewhat scarce. 



FISH AND FISHERIES 



Sturgeon and trout were caught in great quantities in the early days, 

 the former chiefly by means of the spear. Previous to the erection of 

 dams in Wolf river, great numbers of sturgeon migrated upward each 

 spring to spawn, and Indians were then stationed along the river at 

 favorable places ready to cast the spear when the fish appeared. Many 

 of these fish are from 4 to 5 feet in length. The excitement during their 

 capture was intense, and even now frequently forms the topic of ani- 

 mated conversation relating to bygone days. 



While the tribe still occupied the shores of Green bay, great numbers 

 of lake fish were caught, chiefly among which, on account of the excel- 

 lence of its food, was the white fish. At that time, as well as subse- 

 quently, gill-nets were used for placing along favorable places near the 

 shore. These nets were made of cords of native fibers, the process of 

 twisting which is elsewhere described. From the wild hemp and the 

 nettle fine strings were twisted for use as fishing Hues, the hooks being 

 made of two pieces of bone joined together at the lower extremity so 

 as to resemble a V in shape. One arm of the hook was longer than the 

 other, and to this longer arm the line was attached. 



TRAPS 



Two forms of game traps are used by the Menomini ; the larger is the 

 dead fall, made of logs and used in catching bear. The other is made 

 somewhat on a similar principle, though much smaller, and is used only 

 for small mammals. This trap, represented in plate xxx, is made as 

 follows : 



Four stakes, each about 2 inches in diameter and from 18 to 20 inches 

 high, are driven into the ground, so that they form the corners of a 

 parallelogram, as shown by 1, 2, 3, and 4 of figure 49. The two pairs 

 of stakes are about 20 inches apart, with just 

 sufficient space between those of each pair to •* 



permit a sapling to slide between them. A •* 



short piece of sapling, 4 inches in diameter, 



is then placed on the ground, the ends being •* 



made to project beyond each pair of upright o* ° 



posts. The sapling, 4 inclies in diameter and ° ° 



10 to 12 feet long, is taken as the movable 

 or falling piece, which rests on the short stick F«5-»-Gro™dpian of trap for 



i -i i' ii -1 small game. 



just mentioned. A short distance to the side 



(at 5, figure 49) is a short, stout peg, with a notch on one side, to which is 

 attached a cord, while on the opposite side (at 6) is another short peg, to 

 which is attached a salted string. In plate xxx the trap is represented 

 14 eth 18 



