Fish, Fishing and Fisheries of Pennsylvania. 9 



posit on the banks of the Susquehanna, Dr. Abbott came upon a series 

 of about thirty seine "leads" stretched in an iri-egular line about 

 eighteen inches apart. From their position and other evidence found 

 in connection therewith, it was apparent that they formed part of a net 

 which had been set and then abandoned. 



Instead of by buoys, as now used, nets were anchored by stones, care- 

 fully trimmed and weighing from fifteen to twenty pounds each. Many 

 of these are frequently found in the main rivers and their tributaries of 

 Pennsylvania, mute testimony to the great extent to which aboriginal 

 fishing was carried on. 



Ice fishing with gill nets was also a favorite method with the Indians 

 and these were let beneath the ice with wonderful skill and effect. 



That gigging and spearing were carried on to an enormous extent, is 

 shown by the countless nuniber of spear-heads found by archaeologists 

 and relic hunters every year. The spears were either tipped with barbed 

 bone or with long slender pieces of chipped stone of a flinty character. 

 As a general rule, much pains were given to their manufacture for most 

 of the specimens found show evidences of beautiful workmanship. 



Of the exquisite character of the lines used, mention has already been 

 made, and the hooks which were used were scarcely less creditable to 

 their skill. These were usually fashioned from bone or stone and occa- 

 sionally of bird claws (probably of the hawk). So effective were these 

 articles, that Peter Kalm, a pupil of the famous botanist, Linnaeus, who 

 traveled in this country about the middle of the last century, asserted 

 that many white people used them in preference to their own brought 

 from abroad. 



The dipsies for hand and pole lines were also very carefully and sym- 

 metrically modelled. The most elaborate and handsome were fashioned 

 of hematite and shaped like a common plumb bob. Some had the upper 

 portion groved and were encased in netting, while others had holes 

 drilled through them and were fastened to the line without the precau- 

 tion of a net to prevent loss. 



Harriot, a writer in 1585, thus quaintly describes the Indian methods 

 of fishing: 



"They haue likewise a notable way to catche fishe in their Bivers, for 

 whearas they lacke both yron and Steele, they fasten vnto their Eeedes 

 or longe Eodds the hoUowe tayle of a certaine fishe like to a sea crabb, 

 in steede of a poynte, wherwith by nighte or day they stricke fishes and 

 take them off into theire boates. They also know how to vse the 

 prickles and pricks of other fishes. They also make weares, with set- 

 tinge opp reedes or twiggs in the water, which they soe plant one with 

 another that they growe still narrower and narrower, as appeareth by 

 this figure. Ther was neuer seene among vs soe cunninge a way to take 

 fish withall, whereof sondrie soits as they fownde in their Rivers vnlike 

 vnto ours, which are also of a verye good taste. Doubtless yt is a pleas- 



