102 
branches, over which is erected a platform 
or stage on which a person can stand. 
'These are made to be raised, or let down, 
as the water falls or rises. A scoop net, 
which is fastened round a hoop and held 
- bya pole twelve or fifteen feet long, is then 
dropped into the channel, which it exactly 
fits, and the current of the water carrying it 
down, the poor salmen swims into it with- 
out being aware, when the individual who 
watches the net instantly draws it, and flings 
the fish on shore. The handle of the net is 
secured by a rope to the platform, lest the 
force of the water should drive it out of 
the fisher’s hand. The hoop is made of 
-Acer circinatum, the net of the bark of 
an Apocynum, which is very durable and 
"tough, and the pole of Pine-wood. The 
salmon is of good quality, generally weigh- 
ing from 15 to 25lbs., sometimes more. 
I measured two—the first was three feet 
. five inches long from the snout to the tip 
of the tail, and ten inches broad at the 
thickest part, it weighed 35 Ibs. : the other 
was three feet four inches in length, nine 
inches broad, and a little lighter. Both 
were purchased for two inches of tobacco 
(about half an ounce), and value two pence. 
In England the same quantity of salmon 
could not be obtained under £2 or £3, nor 
would it eat so nicely crisped (a great point 
with epicures) as mine has done; when 
cooked under the shade of a princely Pine 
far removed from the abodes of civilized 
. life. Itis wonderful how much comfort, 
at least how much of the feeling of it, can 
consist with such a place, and under such 
circumstances, where I have been surround- 
ed by hundreds of individuals who had 
never seen such a white face as mine be- 
fore, and whose intentions, were I only to 
judge by their weapons and appearance, 
were very hostile. Great was their astonish- 
ment when, after having eaten my salmon, 
I prepared an effervescing draught, and 
swallowed it, boiling, as they believed. 
Their belief in good and bad spirits made 
. and when, besides drinking this * boiling 
with my lens, they called me Olla Piska, 
DOUGLAS’ SKETCH OF A JOURNEY IN THE 
‘them consider me as one of the latter class, manuf 
water," they saw me light a tobacco-pipe i 
which in Chenook language, signifies 
A pair of spectacles which I placed on 
nose, caused no less surprize, and the h 
river is free from rocks or stumps. 
The Sturgeon (Accipenser transmo 
nus, Richardson) attains a length of 
feet, and a weight of 400 to 500 Ibs. in 
Columbia. 
me by my Indian friend, Cockqua, s 
months ago, and as to eat the whole we 
feat even surpassing the powers of ''! 
of King George's Chiefs," I requested | i 
to select the part which he considered 
This request 
for a considerable time, out of the 4 
and spine of this fish. 
A small Trout is also found abunda 
in the creeks of the Columbia. 
Pursh, correctly surmised by iut 
grow on this side of the Rocky Mount 
though whether this country, oF the nc 
Mountains themselves, or the banks of 
Missouri, be its original habitat, I om 
unable to say. I am, however, inciine 
think tbat it is indigenous to the mo 
where the hunters say that it a : 
i i country © 
fully, especially in the ry aioe 
annually visit, and distribu 
both directions, East and : 
Great Chain of the Rocky Mountain 
first saw a single plant of it in the à 
an Indian at the Great Falls of the ° ; 
bia, but though I offered two ounces ' 
actured tobacco, an enormous 
neration, he would on no account pi^ 
Indians near the villages, lest it $ 
