The Alsea Indians were known for their skilled fishing abilities.
An excellent replica of an Alsea Indian fishing hook and line is shown. The hook is carved from bone.The Alsea Indians were known for their skilled fishing abilities.
Can you imagine walking down to a fishing hole and meeting an ALsea Indian sitting there with a fishing pole in his hand? Everyone seems to think that they must have used a bow and arrow, because of what they have read in books or seen in movies. In fact, they never used a bow and arrow to kill fish.
They used fishing poles made out of a tree limb, line made out of rolled together stinging nettles, and hooks made out of bone.
For a big harvest they would drag gill nets through the water. The nets were made of braided plant fibers. In deep holes, too deep to fish with poles or nets, they would use a long spear made out of whale bone, with a barbed, detachable spear head that was connected to a long spool of line. The spear head would stick into the fish and they would just pull it in.
a barbed detachable spear head...was connected to a long spool of line...
After they had made their catch, they would head back to camp on foot and drag the fish all the way back to camp. That would clean off all of the slime and most of the scales.After they reached the camp they would clean the fish and have a big feast.
They believed the fish were immortal, so after they ate the fish, they would put the bones...back into the water.
The Alsea Indians were a very spiritual tribe. They believed that the salmon were immortal, so after they ate the fish they would put the bones back into the water.
In the summer when there weren't any salmon running in the river they caught trout. A smaller hook was used for this.
They used bait to catch trout in summer. Cured salmon eggs were used. The Indians must have dried them so they would keep through the winter.
The Alsea Indians didn't just fish for fish. They had a wide variety of river and ocean creatures to eat. One of the most popular was the seal. The Indians would take canoes down river and spear seals with large harpoons made out of either elk horn or whale bone.
It is kind of interesting how modern day man got some of the skills to survive, and that we still use them.
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--Bobby Grader
Another excellent replica of a barbed spear head used for large harvests of salmon. It is made of bone and a natural glue.