They Are Not Only
Good Hunters Of The Wild Beasts And Game Of The Forest, But Very Expert
In Taking The Fish Of The Rivers And Waters Near Which They Inhabit,
And Are Acquainted Withal.
{Fish to strike.} Thus they that live
a great way up the Rivers practise Striking Sturgeon and Rock-fish, or Bass,
when they come up the Rivers to spawn; besides the vast Shoals of Sturgeon
which they kill and take with Snares, as we do Pike in Europe.
The Herrings
in March and April run a great way up the Rivers and fresh Streams
to spawn, where the Savages make great Wares, with Hedges
that hinder their Passage only in the Middle, where an artificial Pound
is made to take them in; so that they cannot return. This Method is in use
all over the fresh Streams, to catch Trout and the other Species of Fish
which those Parts afford. {Craw-fish to take.} Their taking of Craw-fish
is so pleasant, that I cannot pass it by without mention;
When they have a mind to get these Shell-fish, they take a Piece of Venison,
and half-barbakue or roast it; then they cut it into thin Slices,
which Slices they stick through with Reeds about six Inches asunder,
betwixt Piece and Piece; then the Reeds are made sharp at one end;
and so they stick a great many of them down in the bottom of the Water
(thus baited) in the small Brooks and Runs, which the Craw-fish frequent.
Thus the Indians sit by, and tend those baited Sticks,
every now and then taking them up, to see how many are at the Bait;
where they generally find abundance; so take them off,
and put them in a Basket for the purpose, and stick the Reeds down again.
By this Method, they will, in a little time, catch several Bushels,
which are as good, as any I ever eat.
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