Clark: January 16, 1806
The party finished curing meat at Fort Clatsop, with ample elk meat, some salt, and dry comfortable quarters. Having decided to remain until April 1st, everyone seemed content. Clark explained the reasoning: traveling sooner would be impossible because Indians reported the Columbian Plains had knee-deep snow with little firewood, and the Rocky Mountains held snow up to twenty feet deep, impassable until about June 1st. Clark also described Clatsop and Chinook fishing methods, including straight nets, dip nets, gigs, and hooks, detailing how natives once crafted bone hooks before European trade.
Saturday 16th January 1806 This evening we finished cureing the meat. no
occurrence worthey of relation took place to day. we have a plenty of Elk
beef for the present and a little Salt, our houses dry and Comfortable,
haveing made up our minds to Stay untill the 1st of April every one
appears contented with his Situation, and his fair. it is true we Could
travel even now on our return as far as the timbered Country reaches, or
to the falls of the river, but further it would be madness for us to
attempt to proceed untill april, as the indians inform us that the Snows
lyes knee deep in the Columbian Plains dureing the winter, and in those
planes we could not git as much wood as would Cook our provisions untill
the drift wood comes down in the Spring and lodges on the Shore &c.
and even were we happily over those plains and in the woodey countrey at
the foot of the rockey mountains, we could not possibly pass that emence
bearier of mountains on which the Snow lyes in winter to the debth in
maney placs of 20 feet; in Short the Indians tell us they impassable
untill about the 1s of June, at which time even then is an abundance of
snow but a Scanty Subsistance may be had for the horseswe Should
not foward our homeward journey any by reaching the Rocky mountains
earlier than the 1st of June which we can effect by Setting out from hence
by the 1st of April
The Clatsops, Chinnooks &c. in fishing employ the Common Streight net,
the Scooping or dipping net with a long handle, the gig, and the hook and
line. the Common nets are of different lengths and debths usually employd
in takeing the Salmon, Carr and trout in the inlets among the marshey
grounds and the mouths of deep Creeks,the Skiming or scooping nets
to take Smaller fish in the Spring and Summer Season; the gig and hook are
employed indiscreminately at all Seasons in takeing Such fish as they Can
precure by these means. their nets and fishing lines are made of the Silk
Grass or white Cedar bark; and their hooks are generally of European
manufactory, tho before the whites visited them they made their Hooks of
bone and other Substances formed in the following manner A C and B C are
two Small pieces of bone about the Size of a Strong twine, these are
flattened & beaveled off to their extremites at C, where they are
firmley attached together and Covered with rozin C A is reduced to a Sharp
point at A where it is also bent in a little; C B is attached to the line,
at the upper extremity B. the whole forming two Sides of an accute angled
triangle. the line has a loop at D which it is anexed to a longer line and
taken off at pleasure. Those Hooks are yet common among the nativs on the
upper parts of the Columbia river for to Catch fish in Deep places.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday, 16th January 1806. This evening we finished curing the meat. No occurrence worthy of relation took place today. We have plenty of elk beef for the present and a little salt; our houses are dry and comfortable. Having made up our minds to stay until the 1st of April, everyone appears contented with his situation and his fare. It is true we could travel even now on our return as far as the timbered country reaches, or to the falls of the river, but further it would be madness for us to attempt to proceed until April, as the Indians inform us that the snow lies knee deep in the Columbian Plains during the winter, and in those plains we could not get as much wood as would cook our provisions until the driftwood comes down in the spring and lodges on the shore, etc. And even were we happily over those plains and in the wooded country at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, we could not possibly pass that immense barrier of mountains, on which the snow lies in winter to the depth in many places of 20 feet. In short, the Indians tell us they are impassable until about the 1st of June, at which time even then there is an abundance of snow but a scanty subsistence may be had for the horses. We should not forward our homeward journey any by reaching the Rocky Mountains earlier than the 1st of June, which we can accomplish by setting out from here by the 1st of April.
The Clatsops, Chinooks, etc., in fishing employ the common straight net, the scooping or dipping net with a long handle, the gig, and the hook and line. The common nets are of different lengths and depths, usually employed in taking the salmon, carp, and trout in the inlets among the marshy grounds and the mouths of deep creeks. The skimming or scooping nets are used to take smaller fish in the spring and summer season; the gig and hook are employed indiscriminately at all seasons in taking such fish as they can procure by these means. Their nets and fishing lines are made of the silk grass or white cedar bark, and their hooks are generally of European manufacture, though before the whites visited them they made their hooks of bone and other substances, formed in the following manner: A C and B C are two small pieces of bone about the size of a strong twine; these are flattened and beveled off to their extremities at C, where they are firmly attached together and covered with rosin. C A is reduced to a sharp point at A, where it is also bent in a little; C B is attached to the line at the upper extremity B, the whole forming two sides of an acute-angled triangle. The line has a loop at D, by which it is annexed to a longer line and taken off at pleasure. These hooks are still common among the natives on the upper parts of the Columbia River for catching fish in deep places.
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