30 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
at The Dalles in the spring did not appear until about the close season. A large body 
of steelheads passed up the river during that time. Ordinarily the run of steelheads 
arrives at The Dalles early in September, but this year most of the run passed by 
during the close of the season. 
On September 18 the wheel at Oelilo took 160 steelheads, 28 chinook, and 6 silver 
salmon, and 75 steelheads were taken by Indians with spears and dip nets. Of the 
steelheads, 111 were males and 124 females; 10 males and 15 females were in an 
advanced stage of development, and would have been ripe in a comparatively short 
time; the rest of the catch would not have been ripe until late in the season. Of the 
Chinooks, 19 were males and 9 females; 10 males and all of the females would have 
been ripe by about the first week in October. 
During the five days spent at Celilo 1,512 steelheads, 119 chinook, and 55 silver 
salmon were examined. Of the steelheads, 991 were females and 521 males; 299 
females and 126 males showed considerable signs of development, and would have 
been fully ripe by the first week in October. 
As the river falls many places are left bare wheresalmon were caught earlier in the 
season. Sharp rocks are exposed, small peninsulas formed, and rocky islands appear 
where a few months before there was nothing to indicate their presence except an 
occasional small whirlpool or riffle. At such places Indians fish with spear or dip net. 
Each fall several tribes from various parts of the State camp at Oelilo and Turn water, 
remaining there until the season is over. They fish for the canneries principally, but 
also lay in a supply of salmon for themselves. In pleasant weather when salmon are 
plentiful they do a lucrative business. Sometimes one man catches 35 salmon in a day. 
Their fishing is with a dip net and detachable gaff hook and is carried on in swift 
water, the men standing on overhanging rocks or shelving places where a foothold can 
be had. This is dangerous work, and not a few lives have been lost from time to time. 
When the wind is high, one of the strong gusts that frequently sweep the river may' 
suddenly strike a fisherman unprepared to receive it and blow him into the river. 
Each fisherman who stands in a dangerous place therefore has a rope fastened around 
his waist and secured to a rock. 
In the whirlpool of water only an occasional fish can be seen and the fisherman 
stands and dips blindly. Sometimes a hundred dips or more will be made without a 
fish being taken, at other times one will be caught at almost every dip. Where the 
water is less turbulent salmon are taken with spears, each spearsman having his par- 
ticular standing-place, from which he keeps a vigilant watch, few salmon escaping that 
approach within throwing distance. 
The Indian is assisted by the women and children of the tribe, who gather the 
fish when caught, throwing them into a pile on the rocks and rendering such other 
assistance as may be required. As soon as the day’s fishing is over the Indian leaves 
the fish to be taken care of by the women, and they are taken from the island to the 
mainland, and carried in baskets over a steep, rocky path to the cannery, a distance 
of about a third of a mile. When there is a good catch many trips are required to be 
made to the cannery. A male Indian seldom does this kind of work; he is quite 
willing that it should be performed by the women, and raises no objection when young 
girls are pressed into the service by their mothers. Sometimes, however, small boys 
lend assistance, but by the time they arrive at the age of 12 they have caught the 
spirit of their elders and refuse to do woman’s work. 
